Social learning theory

• What are some assumptions of SLT?

  • behaviour is learned through experience
  • people learn through observation and imitation
• Describe the mediational processes

  • Attention - extent to which we notice certain behaviours
  • Retention - how well the behaviour is remembered
  • Motor reproduction - ability of observer to perform the behaviour
  • Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour
• What is identification?

  when an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like them
• What is meant by modelling?

  when the observer imitates the behaviour of the role model
• What is vicarious reinforcement?

  Vicarious reinforcement is the process of learning by observing others being rewarded or punished for their behaviour.
• Albert Bandura: '"learning would be laborious if people had to rely solely on effects of their own actions... observing others forms an idea of how new behaviours are performed"'
• Strength of Social Learning Theory (SLT)

  • It is a less reductionist approach
  • It combines two levels of explanation to explain behaviour: learning explanations and cognitive explanations
  • It recognises several factors so we have a more well-rounded explanation
  • It can be used to explain a range of behaviours