Social Learning theory

    Cards (11)

    • Social learning theory
      Behaviour is learnt from experience but through observation and imitation as well as conditioning.
    • Assumptions
      • nurture - behaviour is learnt through experience
      • soft determinism - environmental factors play a role in behaviour but there is an element of free choice (mediational processes)
      • holistic - combines cognition and behaviour
      • nomothetic - creates general laws based on similarities between people
    • Modelling
      • the demonstration of behaviour from a model
    • Imitation
      • the copying of the behaviour of others, particularly role models
    • Vicarious Reiforcement
      • a form of indirect learning where we are more likely to perform a behaviour if we have seen another get rewarded for doing it
    • Identification
      • we associate ourselves with another person and want to be like them (behave the same way)
      • this is more likely to happen if the person is similar to us, or of a high status/attractive
    • Bobo doll study
      • 2 groups were shown an adult either playing gently or aggressively with a doll
      • the children copied the behaviour of the adult when they were left alone
      • boys tended to be more violent than girls
    • Mediational processes
      • Attention - the extent to which we notice a behaviour
      • Retention - how well we remember the behaviour
      • Motor reproduction - our ability to perform a behaviour
      • Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour
    • - Lab studies
      Bandura's study may have been affected by demand characteristics resulting from the artificial environment of the study (a lab) --> reduces internal and ecological validity
      + However, lab studies do provide a high level of control over EVs
    • + Real life application
      The use of modelling and identification has helped in situations such as campaigns to reduce alcohol consumption - making them more effective as they are more applicable to the person
    • + Less simplistic
      The social learning theory is made up of many parts (cognitive and behavioural) and has wide ranging, real life effects based on evidence. This makes it more comprehensive, and gives it greater credibility.
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