social learning theory

• social cognitive approach - Bandura
• Bandura believed new behaviour patterns could be learned through observation and imitation.
• during learning, people not only perform responses, but also learn from the consequences of their own and others behaviour
• on basis of feedback, they develop hypothesis on how certain behaviours are most likely to succeed in a given situation. these serve as guides for future behaviour
• what is modelling?


  someone (the model) carrying out the attitude and behaviour to be learned.
• two types of models:

  live model e.g. parent, teacher

  symbolic model- someone portrayed in the medias e.g. a character on tv
• models provide examples of behaviour that can be observed and reproduced using a process known as imitation
• certain amount of learning is acquired through direct reinforcement, but much is learned through imitation of behaviours and attitudes modelled by parents
• research on imitation shows that, with a model, whole patterns of behaviour can be rapidly acquired.
• what are the key determinants of whether a behaviour is imitated?

  -the characteristics of the model

  -the observers perceived ability to perform the behaviour

  -the observed consequences of the behaviour
• what is identification?


  the extent to which an individual relates to the model. in order to identify, observers must feel similar enough to them to believe they would experience the same outcomes in a situation
• research suggests that children are more likely to identify with and learn from those who are similar to them, preferably same sex models. Therefore more likely to imitate their behaviour and social learning is more effective
• what is vicarious reinforcement?

  Bandura and Walters found children who observed an aggressive model awarded for that behaviour were more likely to imitate it than children who observed the same behaviour being punished. suggests individuals don't need to experience rewards or punishment directly to learn
• role of mediational processes?

  bandura claimed in order to learn the observer must form mental representations of the behaviour displayed by the model and the probable consequences of it in terms pf expectancies and future outcomes
• mediational processes cont. when appropriate opportunities arise, the individual may display the behaviour provided the expectation of positive consequences outweigh the expectation of negative ones
• bobo doll experiment?

  • 2 groups of children were tested for imitative learning
  • half the children were exposed to an aggressive model interacting with the bobo doll. other half were exposed to non aggressive
  • following exposure of the model the children were presented with attractive toys that they weren't allowed to play with, frustrating them
  • then they were taken to a room where, among other toys, stood the bobo doll
• bobo doll findings:

  • children exposed to the aggressive model reproduced a great deal of physically and verbally aggressive behaviour resembling that of the model
  • children who'd observed the non aggressive model exhibited virtually no aggression towards the bobo doll
  • 1/3 of children who watched aggressive model repeated models verbal responses and none of the non aggressive group made verbally aggressive remarks
  • in a follow up study, they found children who saw aggressive model be rewarded for behaviour were more likely to show high level of aggression in their play