social learning

• overall assumptions?

  • agrees with behaviourist that all behaviour is learnt through experience
  • this learning occurs through observation & imitation of other peoples behaviour
• explain modelling?

  • person more likely to imitate behaviour if role model is being rewarded for displaying that behaviour - vicarious reinforcement
  • more likely to imitate if they identify with role model they are observing
• explain role of mediated processes?

  • takes into account internal mental processes which mediate & determine whether a response is learnt
• explain attention?

  • extent to which a person pays attention to what they are observing
• explain retention?

  • how well the behaviour is being remembered
• explain motivation?

  • some motivation is needed
• explain reproduction?

  • realistic behaviour that can be imitated
• albert bandura 1961?

  • conducted bobo doll study
• aim of bobo doll study?

  • wanted to see if children would observe & imitate aggressive behaviour
• method of bobo doll study?

  • 2 groups of children
  • one group saw aggressive role model with doll - person was punching & hitting it with mallet
  • other group saw non aggressive role model
  • children made to wait outside a room full of toys including doll before being allowed in
• results of bobo doll study?

  • those who saw aggressive role model were more aggressive
  • those who saw non aggressive were not aggressive towards doll
  • children imitated adults behaviour especially when child had same sex role model
• 3 * of social learning?

  1. practical applications
  2. empirical evidence to support principles
  3. less deterministic than behaviourist
• X reductionist

  • reduces behaviour down to its simplest component that all behaviour is learnt
  • pro - allows us to research in great detail so will be scientific
  • con - neglects other factors which could influence behaviour such as personality/biological factors
  • internal
  • does not take into account all other external factors
  • so its not properly measuring relationship between observation & imitation & how we learn behaviour
• * practical applications from ulrich ?

  • has helped us in real world to understand criminal behaviour
  • ulrich suggests that strongest cause for violent behaviour is having fam member who has also committed crime
  • if they have observed role models who are similar to them do certain behaviour are more likely to imitate
  • can use it in real life situations to explain real life behaviour
  • suggests that identifying with role model increases likelihood of us learning behaviour
• * empirical evidence from sprafkin 1975

  • 6 yr olds watch one ep of lassie
  • one group watched pup rescue scence & other no rescue scene
  • played a game/race where prize could be won & pups were there
  • those who watched rescue scene were more comforting than those who didnt
  • boys who watched rescue scene gave up race to helps pups & imitated behaviour they had seen
  • shows behaviour is learnt through observation & imitation
• * less deterministic?

  • sl suggests that we have a choice in whether we imitate a behaviour
  • suggests its not purely down to environment & we have free will in how we behave
  • states we have a choice in how we behave rather than saying that everyone is same & that behaviour is predetermined
  • takes into account individual differences