Social Learning theory

What is Social learning theory (social cognitive theory)?

Social learning theory, proposed by Albert Bandura, posits that people learn new behaviors through observation and imitation of others, as well as through direct reinforcement or punishment.

What does social learning theory propose about human behaviour?

Theory proposes that human behaviour is the product of the interaction between personal factors, behavioral patterns, and environmental influences.

How is behaviour shaped according to social learning theory?

Behaviour is shaped by constant loop between you, your actions and your surroundings

What is the learning process in social learning theory?

1. stimuli/ attention

2. retention

3. reproduction

4. motivation

What is attention why is it important?

• The individual needs to pay attention to the behaviour and its consequences and form a mental representation of the behaviour  

• extremely important in whether a behaviour influences our actions 

What is retention why is it important?

• How well behavior is remembered. The behavior may be noticed but is not always remembered, which prevents imitation  

• Memory of the behavior is formed to be performed later by the observer  

• There needs to be memory to refer to it and imitate it  

What is reproduction why is it important?

• This is the ability to perform the behavior that the model has just demonstrated. We see much behaviour daily that we would like to be able to imitate, but not always possible  

• Our physical ability limits us, so even if we wish to reproduce the behavior, we sometimes cannot  

What is motivation why is it important?

• The will to perform the behavior. The rewards and punishments that follow a behaviour will be considered by the observer  

• determines whether we repeat the behaviour or not

What study supports social learning theory?

Bandura's bobo doll study 1961

What was the aim of Bandura’s Bobo Doll study?

To investigate whether children learn aggressive behaviour through observing and imitating others (social learning).

what was the sample used in the study?

72 children (36 boys and girls) aged 3-6 years from stanford univerity nusery school.

What was the procedure of Bandura’s study?

→ Children were divided into three groups:
→ Aggressive model – observed an adult behaving aggressively towards a Bobo doll.
→ Non-aggressive model – observed an adult playing calmly with toys.
→ Control group – no adult model.
→ Afterwards, each child was given mild frustration and then allowed to play in a room with a Bobo doll and other toys.

What were the results of the study?

Children who observed the aggressive model were more likely to display aggressive behaviors towards the Bobo doll, especially boys and when the model was same gender, while those who saw the non-aggressive model were less likely to be aggressive.

what was the conclusion of the study?

Aggression can be learned through observation and imitation, supporting Bandura’s social learning theory.

Outline social learning theory (4 marks)

• Behaviour is learned through observation and imitation

• Behaviour is influenced by personal, behavioural, and environmental factors

• Learning occurs through a constant loop between the individual and surroundings

• Reinforcement determines whether a behaviour is repeated

Explain the role of attention and retention in social learning theory (4 marks)

• Attention is needed to notice the model's behaviour and consequences

• It allows the individual to form a mental representation of the act

• Retention involves storing the observed behaviour in memory

• Without memory/retention, the behaviour cannot be imitated later

Explain why someone may not reproduce an observed behaviour (4 marks)

• Reproduction depends on the observer's physical ability to perform the act

• The observer may lack the necessary skills to copy the model

• Physical limitations can prevent reproduction even if the model was observed

• Observation alone does not guarantee the ability to successfully imitate

Explain the role of motivation in social learning theory (4 marks)

• Motivation is the internal willingness or desire to perform a behaviour

• It is influenced by observed rewards and punishments (vicarious reinforcement)

• Positive reinforcement increases the likelihood that a behaviour will be imitated

• A lack of reward or presence of punishment reduces the drive to copy the act

Describe one finding from Bandura’s Bobo Doll study (4 marks)

• Children who saw aggressive models showed significantly more aggression

• Imitation was more likely when the model was the same sex as the child

• Boys generally showed more physical aggression than girls

• Children in non-aggressive or control groups showed very little aggression

Explain how Bandura’s study supports social learning theory (4 marks)

• It proved that children can learn complex behaviours through simple observation

• It showed that learning occurs without the need for direct reinforcement

• It demonstrated that models in the environment serve as the primary source of learning

• Findings validated that social context directly influences behavioural acquisition