SLT

• Bandura (1986) - SLT

  • Modelling, imitation, identification, vicarious reinforcement
  • Children see role model behaviour, imitate behaviour, identify with behaviour or model, more likely to imitate rewarded behaviour, less likely to imitate punished behaviour
  • Focuses on mediational processes
• Bandra et al (1961) - Bobo doll

  • Children exposed to aggressive model behaviour to doll more likely to reproduce behaviour

  Follow up study (with Walters 1963) , kids more likely to reproduce behaviour I'd they see model rewarded for same behaviour
• • SLT has useful applications, eg explaining criminal behaviour (Akers 1998 exposure to those who commit criminal offences increases likelihood of doing the same, supported by Ulrich 2003)
• • Research supports identification, observing model more similar to self (gender, age,ect) increases replication, can visualise self in the role easier (Fox and Bailenson 2009 computer models more similar in look to human more influential)
• • Hard to establish causality, eg delinquency may not be SLT, but having to those tendencies prior to deviant models (Seigel McCormick 2006)
• • Problems of complexity, as the approach doesn't consider other potential behavioural influences
• • Understanding importance of identification helps SL of health behaviour