The Learning Approach: Social Learning Theory

What is the Social Learning Theory? AO1

A way of explaining behaviour by suggesting people learn through observation and imitation of role models, via vicarious reinforcement with the help of mediational processes

What does SLT combine together? AO1

combines behaviourism with the cognitive approach by considering mental factors that affect whether behaviour is imitated

What are the 3 main assumptions of SLT? AO1

1. Cognitive processes (e.g. attention, retention) influence whether we will imitate a models behaviour —> processes mediate between stimulus and response

2. Learn by observing models in the environment and imitating their behaviour

3. Learning can be due to both direct and indirect reinforcement. We can learn from seeing someone else get reinforced —> called vicarious reinforcement

What are the key terms relating to SLT? AO1

1. Imitation

2. Identification

3. Modelling

4. Vicarious Reinforcement

What is meant by imitation? AO1

copying behaviours of others

What is meant by identification? AO1

an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model

What is meant by modelling? AO1

imitating the behaviour of a role model

or

demonstrating the behaviour for another to imitate

What are the 2 types of modelling? AO1

1. Live models

2. Symbolic models

What is meant by a live model? AO1

model we see in our environment e.g. parents, peers

What is meant by a symbolic model? AO1

models we are exposed to through the media e.g. celebs on TV/magazines

What factors influence whether or not a models behaviour is imitated? AO1

1. Motor reproduction

2. Appropriate

3. Identification

What is meant by motor reproduction? AO1

the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour

Why does this influence behaviour? AO1

If the observer is not capable of reproducing the behaviour, they are less likely to imitate the behaviour

What is meant by appropriateness? AO1

is the models behaviour suitable/proper to the observers environment

Why does this influence behaviour? AO1

If the models behaviour is not deemed appropriate by the observer, they are less likely to imitate the behaviour

Why does identification influence behaviour? AO1

If the model has no relevance or relatability to the observers life, the observer will have no motivation to imitate their behaviour

What is vicarious reinforcement? AO1

type of indirect learning

occurs when the observer witnesses the consequences of the behaviour of their role model

if role model is rewarded for their behaviour, observer is motivated to imitate the behaviour, and receive the same reward

How does SLT differ from the behaviourist approach? AO1

SLT suggests that Mediational Cognitive Factors (MCF) need to take place between the stimulus and the response for learning to occur

What are these Mediational Cognitive Factors? AO1

1. Attention

2. Retention

3. Reproduction

4. Motivation

What is meant by attention? AO1

individual needs to pay attention to the behaviour performed and its consequences

What is meant by retention? AO1

individual stores the behaviour and its consequences in their memory

What is meant by reproduction? AO1

individual will reproduce the behaviour they observed if they have the ability and skills

What is meant by motivation? AO1

individual will perform the behaviour, determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished

Who studied SLT?

What was the study called? AO1

Bandura

Bobo Doll study

How did he study SLT? AO1

he studied SLT using aggression

What was Bandura’s aim? AO1

wanted to find out how children are affected by exposure to aggressive and non-aggressive models

What was Bandura’s method? AO1

2 Groups:

• FIRST GROUP= in a room (one at a time) with an adult behaving aggressively towards a bobo doll

• SECOND GROUP= in a room (one at a time) with an adult behaving non aggressively towards a bobo doll

the children were by themselves in a room with toys, including a bobo doll and observed

researcher recorded the number of aggressive acts done by each child

What were Bandura’s findings? AO1

group who saw the adult behave aggressively were more aggressive towards their own bobo doll

What was Bandura’s conclusion? AO1

learn through imitating behaviour we observe from others

What is one strength of SLT? AO3

+ Supported by Research

For example, Bandura conducted a controlled observation where he observed children’s behaviour towards a bobo doll after exposing the children to an aggressive or non-aggressive adult (role model)

He found that children who observed the aggressive adult performed more aggressive acts towards their own bobo doll

This suggests that we learn by imitating behaviours we observe in role models

Therefore strengthens the validity of SLT in explaining behaviour

What is one strength of Bandura’s experiment? AO3

+ Conducted a Controlled Observation

This is because there was a high degree of control over possible extraneous variables, such as all children were exposed to adult (role model) for same amount of time and all children were given same collection of toys

This suggests that Bandura is able to infer causality from his research and able to conclude behaviour is learnt through imitating models

Therefore increases the scientific credibility, strengthening SLT

What is one weakness of Bandura’s experiment? AO3

- Low Ecological Validity

This is because it doesn’t test learning behaviour in a realistic or meaningful way

Observing children in a room after exposing them to an aggressive or non-aggressive model is an artificial task that doesn’t fairly represent learning behaviour in everyday life

In real life learning can be influenced by other possible factor such as environment or personality

Suggests it’s difficult to generalise the findings to whole populations of people, this is further supported by the fact that the study was conducted on a small sample of children who are more likely to imitate behaviour and so we cannot generalise to adults

Therefore research lacks population validity

Thus reducing validity of SLT in explaining behaviour

What is one strength of SLT?

+ SLT offers a more complete explanation

This is because it is a form of soft determinism given that it considers we exert some influence on our behaviour by choosing which behaviour we want to imitate

For example, it proposes that meditational processes need to take place between the stimulus and response for learning to occur and that vicarious reinforcement can influence imitation

This demonstrates the importance of cognitive factors in learning

Therefore strengthens validity of SLT explaining behaviour