social learning theory

• The social learning theory is a way of explaining behaviour that suggests learning occurs through the observation and imitation of others behaviour

  Assumptions:

  • All behaviour is learnt through experiences
  • Learning occurs through observation, imitation and reinforcement
  • Behaviour is more likely to occur when observing a role model we identify with
• Bandura - bobo dolls

  Research 1:

  • 36 boys and 36 girls between 3-5 years old
  • Watched either an adult behaving aggressively towards a bobo doll (kicking, punching) or an adult playing quietly in the corner
  • The children were then placed in a room with a bobo doll and other toys.
  • The children who had seen the aggression were more aggressive towards the doll
• Bandura - bobo dolls

  Research 2:

  • A follow up study was conducted where children saw the model being either rewarded, punished or given no consequence for their aggressive behaviour
  • When given their own doll, children who saw the aggression rewarded were more aggressive themselves.
• We observe others behaviour and take notes of the consequences. Behaviour that is rewarded (reinforced) is more likely to be copied than behaviour that is punished – vicarious reinforcement.
• SLT is not just about learning, it involves cognitive processes e.g. watching, paying attention, remembering etc

  These are called mediational processes…

  According to the SLT, there are 4 mediational processes in learning:

  1. Attention – whether behaviour is noticed
  2. Retention – whether behaviour is remembered
  3. Motor reproduction – being able to do the behaviour
  4. Motivation – the will to perform the behaviour
• People are more likely to imitate the behaviour of people they identify with (role models). This process is called modelling.

  A person becomes a role model if they posses similar characteristics as the observer

  Role models do not need to be present for behaviour to be modelled e.g. media and tv
• strength -

  The SLT considers the importance of cognitive factors in learning, (mediational processes) where as the behaviourist approach does not consider this

  The SLT provides a more complete explanation of learning than the behaviourist approach
• weakness -

  Many of Banduras ideas were developed by observing behaviour in a lab setting, increasing the chances of demand characteristics.

  The research may tell us little about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life, reducing external validity.
• weakness -

  The Bobo doll experiments consistently found boys to be more aggressive than girls which can’t be explained by the SLT.

  Bandura may have underplayed the influence of other factors in the behaviour observed e.g. biological factors such as testosterone levels
• strength -

  Social learning can explain how children learn from others and the media, explaining how cultural norms are transmitted.

  This can help us to understand a range of behaviour e.g. how children understand their social roles based on imitating role models.