Social learning theory

Basic assumptions

Observational Learning: People can learn new behaviors by observing others.

Imitation: Individuals are likely to imitate behaviors modeled by others, especially if the models are similar to the observer, have admired status, or the behavior is seen to have positive outcomes.

Learning occurs directly through conditioning and indirectly through observation

The four mediational processes

Mental processes that explain why we replicate certain behaviors

Attention

• The extent to which we focus on others' behavior.

• Factors influencing attention include the observer’s interest, the complexity of the behavior, and the characteristics of the model (e.g., attractiveness, competence)

Retention

• How well the behavior is remembered.

• Involves encoding the observed behavior into memory for later retrieval.

• Affected by rehearsal and the use of mnemonic devices.

Motor replication

• The ability to perform the behavior that the model demonstrated.

• Requires physical and mental capability.

• Involves transforming the retained behavior into actual performance.

Motivation

• The will to perform the behavior.

• Influenced by anticipated rewards or punishments (reinforcement and punishment).

• Includes intrinsic motivation (personal satisfaction) and extrinsic motivation (external rewards).

Vicarious reinforcement

Learning that occurs by observing the consequences of others' behavior.

• Observers watch a model being rewarded or punished for a behavior.

• If the model is rewarded, the observer is more likely to imitate the behavior.

• If the model is punished, the observer is less likely to imitate the behavior.

• Reinforcement can be direct (experienced by the observer) or vicarious (observed in others).

Modelling

The process of learning behaviors by observing and imitating others. Usually occurs when the person really respects the model, either because they share traits or because they have high status

Bandura’s bobo dolls

A series of studies conducted by Bandura into the influence of media on children’s actions. Children watched a person interact with a bobo doll and then were invited to interact with the same doll.

• Children who observed the aggressive model were more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior towards the Bobo doll.

• Boys were more likely to imitate physical aggression than girls, though both genders imitated verbal aggression.

Comprehensive/holistic

The concept of mediational processes provides a more in depth explanation of human behavior when compared with behaviorism

Differences in behaviour

The idea of modelling helps to explain cultural and gender differences in behaviour and how certain norms and values are taught

Reciprocal determinism

Considers both how people are affected by their environment and how they affect it back

Discounts biological factors

In Bandura’s study, boys were consistently more aggressive than girls possibly due to testosterone which is not taken into account by social learning theory