Social Learning Theory

• Assumptions 


  Assumes behaviour is learned from our environment and experiences

  Looks at cognitive processes

  We learn from other people
• Role models 


  Someone similar to you in terms of characteristics (e.g. gender of socio-economic background). Someone who is successful/increases your success
• Imitation


  Copying behaviour from another person, animal or object
• Identification


  A process where a person unconsciously sets out to pattern themselves after another person. This largely develops the personality
• Mediational Processes 


  Occurs between stimulus and response

  Attention - Attention drawn to behaviour due to vicarious reinforcement

  Retention - Behaviour is significant enough for us to remember details of it

  Motor reproduction - Having the physical motor skills to replicate this behaviour

  Motivation - The drive to continue imitation due to the reinforcement it gives us
• Vicarious Reinforcement 


  When a person is more likely to imitate a particular behaviour by watching a role model be positively or negatively reinforced for that behaviour
• Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment 


  Controlled lab experiment with 36 male and female Ps aged 3-5

  Either shown an aggressive, non-aggressive or no role model

  They were then frustrated by being shown toys they couldn't play with

  They were then moved to a room with toys including a bobo doll and a hammer

  The children with the aggressive role model were aggressive, more so in boys and when the role model was of the same gender
• Bandura and Walters Bobo Doll Adaptation


  Focused more on vicarious reinforcement and rewards for aggression
• Strength


  Research evidence from Bandura and Walters
• Strength


  Bandura and Walters' experiment had positive impacts on society (practical applications). For example, helps us to understand cultural variations in human behaviour
• Weakness 


  Ethical issues of research and research was reductionist
• Weakness


  Research lacks ecological validity as done in lab settings