Social Learning Theory

• what are the basics of learning theory?

  • learning through observation, imitation and modelling from another person/model
  • behaviour can be learnt by observing other people being rewarded for a behaviour - vicarious reinforcement
• what are the 4 processes in social learning theory?

  • attention
  • retention
  • reproduction
  • motivation
• what are some factors that could increase the chance of the behaviour being imitated?

  model being the same gender, same age, seen in a positive light - high status, likeable
• what is vicarious reinforcement?

  reinforcement by which is received indirectly by observing another person who is being rewarded for a behaviour
• what is vicarious punishment?

  stopping a behaviour after observing another person being punished for it
• what is vicarious extinction?

  stopping doing a behaviour after observing another person receive no reward for it
• what is the evidence for social learning theory?

  • bandura 1961 - shows behaviour can be learnt through observation
  • bandura 1965 - concept of vicarious reinforcement to strengthen learning
• what is the negative evidence for social learning theory?

  the Bandura studies lack ecological validity - artificial setting

  so we need more real life research
• what is the application of this theory?

  suggests that adults such as parents and teachers and people in the media may be important in shaping the behaviour of young people

  • censorship we have to be careful what we let children see - violent media
  • the role of mentoring will be important in a child development
• what is a strength of this theory?

  supported well by controlled laboratory experiments with standardised procedures and well controlled variables - scientific credibility
• what is a shortcoming about this theory?

  it suggests that the environment is very important in determining what we become - environmentally deterministic. that is because we don't really have a choice over the important role models of our life - suggests we have no free will
• what is an alternate theory of this theory?

  it is less reductionist than operant conditioning because it allows for cognitive and motivational factors (ARRM)

  but it is reductionist for biological factors and evolutionary factors - it does not account for why it is that some humans are predisposed to learn some behaviours than others.