Social Learning Theory

• What were the findings from Bandura's research?What made the effect stronger?

  Bandura observed that those who observed aggressive behaviour imitated aggressive behaviour, the neutral group were not aggressive and the effects were stronger if children observed the same gender, suggesting identification. This effect was stronger in boys than girls.
• What were the findings of the vicarious reinforcement variation of Bandura's study?

  In the vicarious reinforcemnt variation kids that viewed adults being rewarded for their behaviour were more likely to imitate behaviour than those who viewed adults be punished.
• What are the key assumptions of SLT in relation to:

  • Identification
  • Reinforcement

  Identification:

  Characteristics of models influence the likelihood of imitation of the behaviour, models that we relate to are more likely to be imitated

  Reinforcement:

  Behaviours are more likely to be repeated if rewarded directly or if a model is observed being rewarded, this is vicarious reinforcement.
• What are the key assumptions of SLT in relation to:

  • Learning
  • Models

  Learning:

  Takes place in a social context due to exposure to others behaviour.

  Models:

  Others act as models for our behaviour, these can be real life models or symbolic models (e.g. TV / Movie charicters).
• What was the aim of Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment?

  To investigate whether social behaviour can be learnt via observation.
• What was Bandura's procedure?

  72, 3-5 year old children (36m, 36f)either watched an adult attacking a bobo doll, playing neutrally or a no model control group. The kids aggression was measured before the study and the groups followed a matched pairs design. All were given a "mild aggression arousal" by being placed in a room with nice toys that they couldn't play with before the bobo doll room.
• What are the mediational factors of SLT?

  Mental cognitive processes that need to take place between the stimulus and response.

  ARMM

  Attention, Retention, Motivation and Motor ability.
• What are the key assumptions of SLT in regards to punishment?

  Behaviours are less likely to be repeated if punished directly or if a model is observed being punished, this is vicarious punishment.
• What were the DV and the IV of Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment?

  DV:

  • Levels of aggression observed

  IV:

  • Aggressive role model
  • Non-aggressive role model