AO1

• Bandura agreed with the behaviorists that behavior is learnt through experience however he proposed a different mechanism than conditioning. His approach assumes that learning takes place in a social context due to exposure to the behaviours of others. These other people act as models. The models can be real people who are actually around us at the time (live models) or symbolic models such as characters or celebrities on the TV. 
• 1. Attention: The individual needs to pay attention to the behavior and its consequences and form a mental representation of the behavior.
  2. Retention: Storing the observed behavior in LTM where it can stay for a long period of time. Imitation is not always immediate.
  3. Reproduction: The individual must be able (have the ability and skills) to reproduce the observed behavior.
  4. Motivation: Individuals must expect to receive the same positive reinforcements (vicarious reinforcement) for imitating the observed behavior that they have seen the model receiving.
• • Imitation is more likely to occur if the model (the person who performs the behavior) is positively reinforced. This is called vicarious reinforcement. Similarly behaviours are less likely to be repeated if the model is punished (vicarious punishment).
  • Imitation is also more likely if we identify with the model. We see them as sharing some characteristics with us i.e. similar age, gender, social status as we identify with them.
• Learning and performance are not the same. Performance (reproducing the action) isn’t necessary for learning it (processing and internalising it for potential reproduction at a later date). So unlike in behaviourism, the output (behaviour) isn’t immediate and could be delayed for some time.
• Bobo doll experiment

  • group 1 - 24 children shown model hitting the doll with a hammer and shouting at doll
  • group 2 - 24 shown non-aggressive model
  • group 3 - 24 not shown a model
  • found the children in group 1 were more aggressive, with boys more physically aggressive than girls
  • no difference in verbal aggression
  • supports SLT as it shows children imitate behaviour of role models
• criticisms of Bobo doll experiment

  The Bobo Doll Experiment was criticised by Bandura himself because he used only white middle class American children which may limit generalisation. Also, there was no control over what happened between sessions so it's possible that parents talked about the experiment and influenced their child's behaviour. Finally, the results aren't replicable as when the experiment has been done again, the findings haven't been consistent.
• The Bobo doll experiment was repeated, but this time the three groups were exposed to an aggressive model and saw different consequences for the model:

  • Group 1: the model was praised
  • Group 2: the model was punished (told off)
  • Group 3: no consequences for the aggressive behavior
  • Results: When left on their own to play the children in group 1 showed the most aggression followed by group 3. Group 2 was the least aggressive.
  • Conclusion: This shows that imitation is more likely to occur when the model is positively reinforced, demonstrating the importance of vicarious reinforcement.