Bandura

• Nature or is it nurture?

  Social Learning; Bandura's Theory
• Albert Bandura


  Social learning theory – we learn our behaviour by imitating and modelling those around us
• Bandura thought behaviour is copied from others without any reinforcement or conditioned learning
• Bandura's research


  1. He did research to demonstrate that children would copy behaviours they saw in adults

  2. Cub scout salute and badge challenges

  3. 'Bobo' doll experiment

  4. Children who watched adults behaving aggressively towards the doll were twice as likely to act aggressively toward the doll, than children who had not seen the aggressive behaviour, when they had the chance to play with it themselves
• He concluded that not all behaviour is learnt through reinforcement and conditioning
• We are also influenced by what we see happening to others
• Children might not act out what they see others doing immediately but it might still impact on them
• What makes us more likely to copy behaviour?

  • If we see the behaviour being rewarded
  • If we like and respect the person whose behaviour we observe
  • If we see ourselves as similar to the person we observe and their behaviour
  • If behaviour can be copied without too much difficulty
• Parents and teachers are important role models for children
• Children learn from what these role models say as well as what they do
• Bandura also said that reinforcement would strengthen behaviour but only if used consistently
• If one parent disciplines their child one way and is not supported by the other parent, who then may reward the behaviour… there is inconsistencies and confusion in learning the correct values
• Strengths of Bandura's theory

  • Bandura argued that behaviour is shaped by more than just rewards and reinforcement
  • Suggests positive role models will encourage positive behaviour – useful for care workers e.g. teachers, childminders etc
  • Helps to explain why people carry out behaviours even when there is no external reward
• Weaknesses of Bandura's theory

  • It doesn't always explain how all behaviour is learnt
  • Not all behaviour is copied from someone else
  • Not all observed behaviour is copied; even young children know the difference between fantasy violence and the real thing
  • Doesn't take personality traits into account (innate biological)