Social learning theory

• What does this theory state ?

  learning through observation of others
• What are the assumptions ?

  1. Combination of behavioural and cognitive approach
  2. behaviour is learnt through active experience with the environment and motivation
  3. we learn through observation + imitation
  4. learn through classical + operant conditioning directly but also indirectly through vicarious reinforcement
• What is vicarious reinforcement ?

  observing others be reinforced for their behaviour
• What are mediational processes accronym ?


  ARMM
• What are mediational processes ?

  • learning + doing the behaviour seen
  • cognitive factors that influence learning
• What is attention ?

  • how much we notice the behaviours of others
• What is retention ?

  • how well we remember the behaviour
• What is motor reproduction ?


  ability to imitate the behaviour
• What is motivation ?

  The will to perform ( dependent. On the reward or punishment)
• What is identification ?

  • the likelihood of imitating a behaviour is dependent on how well we identify with person ( see them as a role model). As we identify with them the most, more likely to imitate
• What was banduras aim ?


  See if children would learn and imitate an adult role model
• What was banduras sample ?

  • 72 American children age 3-6
  • groups of 8-6
  • control group of 24
• What was the method ?

  • half the group exposed to an adult being aggressive towards a bobodoll
  • other half, not aggressive
• What was the findings ?

  • children who witnesses aggression were aggressive towards the doll
  • vice versa
• What happened in the follow up study ?


  Children saw model through t.v either being rewarded or punished for aggressive behaviour

  • children who saw rewarded were more aggressive than those who punished
• Evaluation ?

  1. Practical application
  2. ignores biological factors
  3. excepts that cognitive processes are involved
• Practical applications ?

  • social skills training to model positive behaviour
  • reduces crime
  • benefits society
• Ignores biological factors ?

  • gender- males testosterone
  • natural instincts
• Excepts that cognitive processes are involved ?

  • mediations processes
  • better than behaviourism
  • himans not jsut stimulus + response