Social learning theory

• Albert Bandura outlines the social learning theory - this emphasises the role that social factors can have on behaviour
• Bandura extended the behaviourist approach to include indirect and direct reinforcement
• in order for learning to take place the observer needs to be motivated by two key processes

  1. observing a role model
  2. vicarious reinforcement - if a role model is reinforced in some way for their behaviour then the individual anticipates similar outcome and rewards for themselves and is likely to repeat observed behaviour