Social learning theory - Bandura (1977)

• Bandura (1977)


  Believes humans are active information processors
• Social learning theory


  Emphasises the importance of observing, modelling, and imitating the behaviours, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others
• Social learning theory


  Considers how both environmental and cognitive factors interact to influence human learning and behaviour
• Operant conditioning


  A behaviourist learning theory with which Bandura agrees
• Bandura's additions to behaviourist theories

  • Mediating processes occur between stimuli & responses
  • Behaviour is learned from the environment through observational learning
• Mediating processes


  Intervene in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired
• Process of observational learning

  1. Attention

  2. Retention

  3. Reproduction

  4. Motivation
• Attention


  We must pay attention to or closely watch a model’s behaviour and the consequences
• Factors influencing attention


  • Perceptual capabilities
  • Motivation and interest level
  • Situation of observation
  • Distractors present
  • Characteristics of the model
  • Importance of the behaviour
  • Distinctiveness
  • Effect on us
• Retention


  We must be able to remember the model’s behaviour and store it in memory
• Reproduction


  The ability to perform the behaviour that the model has demonstrated
• Motivation


  The observer must be motivated to perform the behaviour
• Reinforcement (ARRMR)


  Influences motivation to reproduce the observed behaviour
• Types of reinforcement


  • External reinforcement
  • Vicarious reinforcement
  • Self-reinforcement
• Vicarious reinforcement


  Occurs indirectly by observing the modelled behaviour being reinforced
• Self-reinforcement


  Occurs when we are reinforced by meeting certain standards of performance we set for ourselves
• Observational learning


  A key aspect of social learning theory where individuals learn and adopt behaviours by observing others
• The Bobo doll experiment was conducted by Bandura in 1961
• Model


  Individuals that are observed
• Types of models


  • Live Model
  • Verbal Instructional Model
  • Symbolic Model
• Live Model


  Observing an actual individual perform a behaviour
• Verbal Instructional Model


  Listening to detailed descriptions of behaviour and then acting based on that description
• Symbolic Model


  Learning through media where behaviours are demonstrated
• Application of Bandura’s theory to education

  • Sense of belonging
  • Self-efficacy
  • Increased achievement
  • Perceived attainability
  • Perceived similarity
• Media violence effects


  • Children mimic violent behaviour
  • Increased aggression
  • Desensitisation
  • Aggressive social scripts
• Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)

  Renamed by Bandura in 1986 to better describe how we learn from social experiences
• Mirror neurons may constitute a neurological basis for imitation