evaluation

• • one strength of the social learning theory is that it has practical applications.
  • Social learning theory allows for the development of treatments for phobia. Modelling allows the client to see another person who is similar to them interacting with the phobia, this is an example of vicarious reinforcement.
  • Through repeated exposure to modelling, the client will learn how to interact with the phobic item in a non anxious way.
  • This means that the concepts of modelling, imitation, identification and vicarious reinforcement can be used to improve the daily lives of people.
• • another strength of the theory is that it is scientific
  • Banduras research relies on lab experiments which use standardised procedures, making it reliable.
  • The Bobo Doll experiments have high levels of control. For example the IV (models behaviour) was manipulated, the DV (aggression) was measured and extraneous variables were controlled. For example participant variables were eliminated as the parents did a quiz to reveal the child's baseline aggression levels.
  • This means that the approach is capable of establishing cause and effect relationships between observation and imitation.
• • one strength of the approach is that it is less reductionist than others.
  • Social learning theory is praised as Bandura does not reduce complex behaviours such as aggression down to a simplistic level.
  • bandura considers the complex interactions between environmental and cognitive factors as he argues that imitation only takes place after a series of mediational processes.
  • therefore this theory is more holistic than others as it incorporates both cognitive and behavioural factors when explaining human behaviour
• • one limitation is that the supporting evidence lacks internal validity.
  • Banduras Bobo Doll studies were carried out in a lab, which can be criticised for being artificial.
  • The children may have been responding to the bobo doll in an aggressive way because they might've thought that the doll was designed for that. They may have only been acting in a way that they thought they were expected to.
  • This means that the social learning theory may not provide valid explanations on behaviour.