Social Learning Theory

• Social Learning Theory Assumptions

  - Bandura agreed with the behaviourist approach that learning occurs through experience.

  - However, he also proposed that learning takes place in a social context through observation and imitation of others' behaviour.
• Imitation


  Copying the behaviour of another person

  
• Vicarious Reinforcement


  - Learning that occurs by observing the reinforcement or punishment of another person.
• The role of mediational processes


  - Focuses on how mental factors are involved in learning.

  - These mental factors mediate in the learning process to determine whether a new response is required.
• Attention (mediational process)


  The extent to which we notice certain behaviours
• Retention (mediational process)


  How well the behaviour is remembered
• Motor reproduction (mediational process)


  The ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
• Motivation (mediational process)


  The will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished.
• Identification


  - When a person (usually a child) identifies a role model and the fact that this role model has something they would like (money, fame, friends, etc).

  - Happens particularly when the role model has similar characteristics to the admirer.
• Modelling


  - From the observer's perspective, modelling is imitating the behaviour of a role model.

  - From the role model's perspective, modelling is the precise demonstration of a specific behaviour that may be imitated by an observer.
• Bandura's research


  Bobo Doll experiment:

  
  

  A) - Adult acts aggressively towards the doll.

  - Child watches then acts aggressively towards the doll (more aggressive than kids who observed a non-aggressive adult).

  - IMITATION.

  
  

  B)1)-Adult is punished for their behaviour.

  -Child does not imitate actions (plays gently).

  2)-Adult is praised for their behaviour.

  -Child will act aggressively towards Bobo

  3)-Adults behaviour has no consequences.

  -Child exerts medium levels of aggression.

  
• Strengths of social learning theory

  Cognitive factors

  - Provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of mediational processes.

  - HOWEVER, recent research suggests that observational learning (the kind Bandura was talking about) may be the result of mirror neurons in the brain, which allow us to emphasise with and imitate other people.

  
  

  Real-world application

  - Explains cultural differences in behaviour.
• Limitation of social learning theory

  Contrived lab studies

  - Lab studies are often criticised for their contrived nature where participants may respond to demand characteristics.