social learning theory

• SLT: who completed the SLT study?

  Bandura
• SLT: what type of experiment was Bandura's study?

  Lab experiment
• SLT: what type of children took part in Bandura's study?

  American
• SLT: how many children took part in Bandura's study?

  72 (36 boys, 36 girls)
• SLT: how old were the children that took part in Bandura's study?

  3-6 years old
• SLT: How did Bandura organise the children in his experiment (Procedure: AO1)

  He placed them into 3 groups.

  1. Group 1: 12 boys and 12 girls were shown a model hitting the doll with a hammer and acting verbally abusive to the doll (aggressive role model).
  2. Group 2: 12 boys and 12 girls were shown a non aggressive role model
  3. Group 3: 12 boys and 12 girls acted as a control group and were not shown a model.
• SLT: Bandura Procedure (AO1)

  The children were taken into a room with some attractive toys but were told not to play with the toys (aggression arousal). Then, the children were individually taken into a room containing a bobo doll, non-aggressive toys such as pencils and plastic farm animals, and aggressive toys such as toy hammers and pistols.
• SLT: What were the results of results of Bandura's experiment?

  The children who had observed the aggressive model (group 1) were more aggressive than the children from the other two groups. Group 1 imitated specific aggressive acts that were displayed by the model. Boys imitated more physically aggressive acts than girls. There was no difference in the verbal aggression between boys and girls.
• SLT: What was the conclusion of Bandura's study?

  Children imitate behaviour of a perceived role model, even if the behaviour is aggressive.
• What are the assumptions of social learning theory?

  People learn through observation and imitation of others within a social context, which is known as social learning.
• SLT: what is vicarious reinforcement?

  For indirect learning to take place, an individual observes the behaviour of others. The learner may imitate this behaviour, but in general imitation only occurs if the behaviour is seen to be rewarded rather than punished.
• SLT: what is the role of mediational processes?

  SLT is often described as the bridge between traditional learning theory and the cognitive approach, as it focuses on how cognitive factors are involved in learning. These mental factors mediate in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired. They are known as mediational processes.
• SLT: name the mediational processes.

  A: Attention- the extent to which we notice certain behaviours.

  R- Retention- how well the behaviour is remembered.

  These 2 above points relate to the learning of the behaviour.

  R- Reproduction- the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour.

  M- the will to perform the behaviour, which is determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished.

  These 2 above points relate to the performance of the behaviour.
• SLT: what is modelling?

  People (especially children) are more likely to imitate the behaviour of people of role models, particularly same sex role models. A person becomes a role model i they are seen to possess similar characteristics to the observer, are attractive to the individual, and have have status to the individual.
• SLT: why might people imitate behaviour?

  From imitating a behaviour, an individual may get intrinsic rewards, such as pride or excitement, as well as external rewards such as a congratulations or a smile.
• evaluation (AO3) what are the 3 evaluation points regarding SLT and Bandura?

  1. Research support
  2. Does not account for biological factors
  3. Cultural difference
• evaluation (AO3) SLT: Research support

  Experimental approached to investigate learning, for instance Bandura's experiment has found empirical evidence to support the notion that children learn behaviour through the observation and imitation of role models. However, although the experiments by Bandura had many versions and were reliable in their findings, we cannot overlook the issues with experimental evidence that might affect the ecological validity of the results. Conclusions drawn might not be applicable to real life situations and all ages ranges outside of the sample used by Bandura.
• evaluation (AO3) SLT: Biological factors

  SLT focuses on human traits of consciousness and rationality, addressing the influence of mediational processes on learning. The cognitive process was neglected by the earlier behaviourists and cannot be demonstrated with animal research, indicating a more holistic approach has been taken by SLT theorists. This means that the approach is less reductionist and environmentally deterministic than the Behaviourist approach. However, it neglects biological factors that might drive our behaviour, for example the role of testosterone in aggressive behaviour, limiting the comprehensiveness of the theory as a whole.
• what are the assumptions of the SLT approach?

  1. Children learn via the observation of role models, who tend to be older, attractive (possesses similar qualities) to the individual, or high status.
  2. They imitate observed behaviours exhibited by RM.
• evaluation (AO3) SLT: Cultural differences

  SLT has the advantage of being able to explain cultural differences in behaviour. Social learning principles can account for how children learn from other individuals around them, as well as through the media, and this can explain how cultural norms are transmitted through particular societies. This has been useful in understanding a range of behaviours, such as how children come to understand their gender role, supporting the usefulness of SLT as an explanation for behavioural choices.
• AO1 16 marker summary SLT

  SLT proposes that people learn through observation and imitation of others within a social context, which is cemented through vicarious reinforcement; for indirect learning to take place an individual observes the behaviour of others. The behaviour is normally imitated if it is seen to be rewarded, or if it is conducted by a role model- a high status, attractive individual. SLT also focuses on how cognitive factors are involved in learning. These mental factors mediate in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired. They are attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation.