Social learning theory

• Assumptions

  Bandura- people learn through observation and imitation of others

  occurs directly and indirectly through classical and operant conditioning
• Vicarious reinforcement

  = reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour

  • imitation= copying behaviour of others only when the behaviour is seen to be rewarded rather than punished
• Mediational processes

  = how mental/cognitive factors are involved in learning. These factors mediate in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired:

  • attention= extent to which we notice behaviours
  • retention= how well behaviour is remembered
  • motor reproduction= ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
  • motivation= will to perform behaviour
• Identification

  = more likely to imitate people they identify with.

  • identify with a role model and the process of imitating a role model= modelling
  • imitating the behaviour of a role model
• Bandura- research 


  = recorded the behaviour of young children who watched an adult behave in an aggressive way towards a bobo doll- adult hit doll with a hammer

  • children later observed playing the doll they behaved more aggressively towards the doll than those who had observed a non-aggressive adult
  • 1 group saw adult praised for behaviour, another saw adult being punished and third saw no consequences
  • 1st group showed more aggression then 3rd then 2nd
• Evaluation- cognitive factors

  strength= it recognises the importance of cognitive factors in learning. Neither classical or operant conditioning can offer an adequate account of learning on their own

  • humans and animals store information about the behaviour of others and use it to make judgments about when it’s appropriate to perform certain actions
  • suggests SLT provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role mediational processes
• Evaluation- counterpoint

  = SLT has been criticised for making too little reference to the influence of biological factors on social learning.

  • Bandura claimed natural biological differences influenced our learning potential, he thought learning was determined by the environment
  • later research suggests it’s due to mirror neurones in the brain which allow us to emphasise with and imitate others
• Evaluation- contrived lab studies

  Lab studies criticised for their contrived nature where participants may respond to demand characteristics

  • the main purpose of the bobo doll is to strike it so children were behaving in a way they thought was expected.
  • suggests research tells us little about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life.
• Evaluation- real world application

  Can explain cultural differences in behaviour

  • modelling, imitation and reinforcement can account for how children learn from others around them including the media, this can explain how cultural norms are transmitted through societies.
  • proved useful in understanding a range of behaviours such as how children come to understand their gender role.
  • increases value of the approach as it can account for real world behaviour