social learning theory

• Social learning theory (SLT)

  • Learning occurs through experience
  • Learning takes place in a social context through observation and imitation of others' behaviour
• Mediational (cognitive) processes in learning

  1. Attention - whether behaviour is noticed

  2. Retention - whether behaviour is remembered

  3. Motor reproduction - being able to do it

  4. Motivation - he will to perform the behaviour
• Identification with role models

  People are more likely to imitate the behaviour of those with whom they identify. Such role models are similar to the observer, attractive and have high status.
• Albert Bandura agreed with the behaviourist approach that learning occurs through experience
• Albert Bandura proposed that learning takes place in a social context through observation and imitation of others' behaviour
• Children (and adults) observe other people's behaviour and take note of its consequences. Behaviour that is seen to be rewarded (reinforced) is more likely to be copied which is known as vicarious reinforcement
• Bandura et al. (1961)

  1. Children watched either:

  2. An adult behaving aggressively towards a Bobo doll

  3. An adult behaving non-aggressively towards a Bobo doll
• Bandura and Walters (1963)

  1. Children saw adult who was:

  2. Rewarded

  3. Punished

  4. There was no consequence
• When given their own doll to play with

  The children who had seen aggression were much more aggressive towards the doll
• When given their own doll

  The children who saw the aggression rewarded were much more aggressive themselves
• The Bobo doll studies suggest that children are likely to imitate (model) acts of violence if they observe these in an adult role model
• Modelling aggressive behaviour is more likely if such behaviour is seen to be rewarded (vicarious reinforcement)
• Evaluation of social learning theory

  One strength is it emphasises the importance of cognitive factors. Neither classical or operant conditioning can offer a comprehensive account of human learning on their own as cognitive factors are omitted. Humans and animals strore information about the behaviour of others and use this to make judgements about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions. This shows that SLT provides a more complete explanation of human learning than the behaviourist approach by recognising the role of mediational processes.
• Evaluation of social learning theory

  One limitation is it relied too heavily on contrived lab studies. Many of Bandura's ideas were developed through observation of children's behaviour in lab settings and this raises the problem of demand characteristics. The main purpose of a bobo doll is to hit it. So, the children may have been behaving as they thought was expected. Thus the research may tell us little about how children actualy learn aggression in everyday life.
• Evaluation of social learning theory

  One strength is its real world application. Social learning principles can account for how children learn from other people around them, as well as through the media, and this can explain how cultural norms are transmitted. This has proved useful in understanding a range of behaviours such as how children come to understand gender roles by imitating models in the media. This increases the value of SLT as it can account for real world behaviour