Social Learning Theory

key concepts of slt:

imitation, identification, modelling, vicarious reinforcement

what is imitation?

when an individual observes a behaviour from a role model and copies it.

what is identification?

people are more likely to imitate the behaviour of people with whom they identify, e.g. someone with similar characteristics.

what is modelling?

when someone is influential on an individual in some way, they are referred to as a model. if an individual then imitates that person's behaviour later, it is called modelling the behaviour.

what is vicarious reinforcement?

the person learns by observing the consequences of another person's behaviour e.g. them receiving a reward.

what is mediational process?

arrm: attention, retention, reproduction, motivation

what is attention?

for a behaviour to be imitated, it has to grab our attention.

what is retention?

remembering the behaviour is pivotal in imitation- there has to be a memory to refer to.

what is reproduction?

imitation is limited by physical ability, so even if one wishes to reproduce the behaviour, we can't- this influences imitation.

what is motivation?

the rewards that will follow a behaviour will be considered by the observer. if the perceived rewards outweigh the costs, then the behaviour will be more likely to be imitated.

what are the assumptions of the social learning theory?

1. Behaviour is learned through observational learning (modelling, imitation, identification, and vicarious reinforcement).

2. We learn by observing others and the consequences of their behaviour, which guide future actions.

3. Mediational (cognitive) processes occur between stimulus and response, including attention, retention, and motivation.

Why is Social Learning Theory considered a more comprehensive explanation of behaviour?

It includes mediational (cognitive) processes, meaning people store information and make judgements, giving a more holistic explanation than behaviourism.

How does Social Learning Theory explain cultural differences in behaviour?

Behaviour is learned from social agents (parents, peers, media), so cultural norms are transmitted, explaining differences in gender roles and attachment types.

What evidence supports Social Learning Theory in explaining cultural differences?

It explains cross-cultural variation in behaviour (e.g. gender roles, attachment), increasing its validity.

What are the practical applications of Social Learning Theory?

It helps explain behaviours like offending and has been applied in research such as differential association theory.

How does Social Learning Theory explain criminal behaviour?

People are more likely to commit crime if exposed to role models who offend, as they learn and adopt their values, attitudes, and behaviours.

Why is Social Learning Theory useful for society?

It provides causal explanations and can lead to preventative solutions to issues like crime.

What is a key limitation of Social Learning Theory regarding nature?

It underestimates biological factors, focusing too much on learning.

What evidence suggests Social Learning Theory ignores biological factors?

Boys showed more aggression than girls in studies (e.g. Bobo doll), which may be due to biological influences like testosterone, not just learning.

What is the overall criticism of Social Learning Theory?

It may not fully explain behaviour because it ignores the role of biology (nature).