Social learning theory

• AO3: Cognitive factors


  One strength is that it recognises the importance of cognitive factors in learning.

  Neither classical nor operant conditioning can offer a fully comprehensive account of human learning on their own because cognitive factors are not taken into account. Humans and animals store information about the behaviour of others and use this to make judgements about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions.

   This shows that SLT provides a more complete explanation of human learning than the behaviourist approach by recognising the role of meditational processes.
• AO3: Contrived lab studies


  One limitation of the SLT is that it relies too heavily on evidence from contrived lab studies.

  Many of Bandura's ideas were developed through observation of children's behaviour in lab settings. This raises the problem of demand characteristics as the artificial setting may have encouraged the children to behave as they believe was expected of them therefore reducing the study's internal validity. This suggests that Bandura's research actually tells us little about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life.
• AO3: Real-world application 


  Another strength of the SLT is that it has real-world application.

  Social learning principles can account for how children learn from other people around them, as well as through the media, and this can explain how cultural norms are transmitted. Therefore, SLT has proved useful in understanding a range of behaviours such as how children came to understand their gender role by imitating role models in the media.This increases the value of SLT as it can account for real-world behaviour.
• What is the social learning theory?

  The SLT says that learning occurs directly, through classical and operant conditioning, but also indirectly.

  Bandura developed the SLT and believed that behaviour was linked to observation and imitation. His theories focused more on the thinking processes involved with behaviour.
• What is vicarious reinforcement?

  Vicarious reinforcement is the process of learning by observing others being rewarded or punished for their behaviour. Imitation only occurs if the behaviour is seen to be rewarded.
• What is the role of the mediational process?

  SLT is often described as the bridge between the behaviourist learning theory and the cognitive approach as it focuses on the mental factors involved. These mental factors mediate in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired.
• Name the 4 mediational processes:

  1. Attention - the extent to which we notice certain behaviours
  2. Retention - how well the behaviour is remembered
  3. Motor reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
  4. Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour which is often determined by whether the behaviour is rewarded or punished
• What is Identification:

  • People are more likely to imitate people they identify with, this is identification.
  • The person they identify with is called a role model and the process of imitating a role model is called modelling.
  • A person can become a role model if they have similar characteristics, or if they are attractive or of higher status.
  • Role models do not need to be physically present for modelling to occur.
• A03: Counterpoint


  However, SLT has been criticised for making too little refernece to the influence of biological factors on social learning. Although Bandura claimed natural biological differences influenced our learning potential, he thought that learning itself was influenced by the environment. However, recent research suggests that observational learning may be the result of mirror neurons which allow us to empathise with and imitate other people. This suggests that biological influences on SL were underemphasised in SLT.