social learning theory

• social learning theory 


  a way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors

  stages: an observer identifies themselves with a desirable role model, this role model displays or models a specific behaviour, which is imitated by the observer, the liklihood that the observed behaviour will be imitated is increased if the role model os seen to bbe rewarded (vicariously reinforced), therefore the consequence of the observed behaviour are more important than observing the behaviour alone
• Bandura's research 


  recorded the behaviour of young children who watched an adult behave in an aggressive ways towards a bobo doll such as hitting and kicking it

  when the children were later observed playing with the bobo doll they behaved much more aggressively towards the doll and other toys than those who had observed a non-aggressive adult
• vicarious reinforcement

  reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour, this is a key factor in imitation
• social learning theory evaluation strengths

  real-world application - has an advantage of being able to explain cultural differences in behaviour, can account for how children learn from others around them including the media

  
  

  experimental support - the bobo doll experiment shows that children are more likely to imitate models who are rewarded for their behaviour (vicarious reinforcement)
• social learning learning evaluation limitation

  evidence is mainly conducted in lab studies which participants may respond to demand characteristics and the children in the bobo doll study were only acting in a way they thought they were expected to

  
  

  doesnt take into account biological factors on behaviour such as the levels of serotonin and dopamine