Social learning theory

• Bandura's social learning theory (SLT)


  Suggests that behaviour is learned through direct experience and observing others
• Bandura's social learning theory

  1. Modelling

  2. Imitation

  3. Identification

  4. Vicarious reinforcement

  5. Mediational processes
• Modelling

  The process of observing someone else's behaviour, which can be done in person or through the media
• Imitation


  Occurs when an individual copies the actions they've learned from the model
• Identification


  The extent to which the individual relates to the model
• Vicarious reinforcement


  Occurs when a person observes a model being rewarded for a behaviour
• Mediational processes


  Mental (cognitive) factors that intervene in the learning process to determine whether a new behaviour is acquired or not
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  One strength of the SLT is that it has highly controlled research support. For example, in Bandura's Bobo doll study, children were matched into pairs, ensuring an equal number of aggressive and non-aggressive children in each group. The study found that children who observed aggressive behaviours were more likely to imitate it when given the chance to interact with a doll. This demonstrates control for individual differences and supports the idea that children learn through observation and imitation. Therefore, Bandura's study increases the credibility of the SLT.
• What is the counter argument to highly controlled research support?


  However, some children may have prior experience with the Bobo doll, knowing they should hit and throw it, while others may be scared of clowns and focus on different toys. Therefore, the uncontrolled participant variables in the matched pairs design reduces the study's internal validity in supporting the SLT. 
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  Another strength of the  SLT is that real world practical applications. For example, Andsager et al. discovered that when individuals identify with a character in an anti-alcohol message advertisement, they are more likely to model behaviors such as imitation and identification. This demonstrates how the principles of SLT can be utilised  to positively impact health promotion campaigns, addressing problem behaviors like alcoholism. Therefore, the SLT helps us better understand how relatable role models influence individuals in real-world scenarios.
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  One weakness of the SLT is its inability to directly observe mediational processes. For example, the SLT suggests that perception and memory are processes involved in observational learning, but we can’t test which specific mediational processes are at play or understand how they work. This lack of direct observation makes it challenging to develop a scientific method for testing and make reliable predictions about observational learning. As a result, the SLT has limited explanatory power in understanding the underlying mechanisms of observational learning.
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  Another strength of the  SLT is that real world practical applications. For example, Andsager et al. discovered that when individuals identify with a character in an anti-alcohol message advertisement, they are more likely to model behaviors such as imitation and identification. This demonstrates how the principles of SLT can be utilised  to positively impact health promotion campaigns, addressing problem behaviors like alcoholism. Therefore, the SLT helps us better understand how relatable role models influence individuals in real-world scenarios.
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  Another weakness of the SLT is the issue of causality. For example, Siegel and McCormick found that young people with deviant values are more likely to associate with similarly-inclined peers because they're more fun to be around.This implies that the reinforcement of deviant behaviour is not solely attributed to the SLT, but rather a two-way process. Therefore, it becomes challenging to determine whether individuals learn behaviour from models or if they actively seek out models who already exhibit the behaviour they prefer.
• State the 4 mediational processes involved when deciding whether to imitate behaviour

  1. Attention- notice certain behaviour
  2. Retention- how well it is remembered 
  3. Motor reproduction- ability to perform behaviour
  4. Motivation- behaviour will be performed if expectation of a positive consequence is greater than the expectations of a negative consequence. 
• State and describe the 2nd study carried out by Bandura which shows influence of vicarious reinforcement on aggressive behaviour in children

  • Children saw a model being rewarded, punished, or experiencing no consequences for aggressive behavior towards a Bobo doll.

  • Found that children showed less similar behavior toward the bobo dolll when they were shown the clip that ended with the punishment compared to the other conditions
• Why is SLT described as the bridge between traditional learning theory (behaviourism) and cognitive approach?

  • Focuses on how mental (cognitive) factors are involved in learning.
  • Individuals do not just automatically imitate a behavior- there is some thought prior to imitation.
  • These mental factors mediate (intervene) in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired.