Social Learning theory

Indirect Learning

Being taught any skills , behaviours or knowledge from role models, through observation and imitation

Vicarious reinforcement

when someone else is rewarded for a behaviour and it is observed and learnt through observation

meditational processes

Attention: notice the behaviour

Retention: retaining behaviour

Motor reproduction: able to perform the behaviour

Motivation: the reward when we do the behaviour

what was the control group in bandura’s experiment

the adult played gently

therefore so did the child

Bandura Bobo Doll

1961

72 young children split into groups

One group watched adult being aggressive to the Bobo Doll and playing aggressively with toys

Other group watched adult being gentle with the Bobo Doll and playing nicely with toys

aggressive = children are also verbally and physically aggressive.

Boys were more aggressive than girls

Children were more likely to imitate same-sex models.

Findings were unexpected as it was believed that watching aggression reduced it - purged it.

Bandura - Vicarious reinforcement

1963

Children watched a film of an adult being aggressive to the Bobo doll with…

1.The adult was praised and given sweets.

2.The adult was scolded and spanked.

3.The adult was neither rewarded nor punished.

Findings: The "Model Reward" group showed the most aggression, followed by the "No Consequences" group. The "Model Punishment" group showed the least aggression.

Vicarious reinforcement—children learn by observing the consequences of someone else's behaviour.

why were banduras findings unexpected

why were his findings significant

at the time it was believed that watching aggression would purge someone of it

television was starting to move into homes - increasing media violence

strengths and limitations of social learning theory (3 per)

strengths

• applicable in real world settings

• less deterministic - mediational processes

• clear cause and effect in banduras experiment - children in groups of aggression formed by teachers

limitations

• fails to Explain the Origin of Behaviours: explains how behaviours are passed down and mirrored, not how new behaviour originates → no model to show it first.

• Underestimates Biological Factors- Bobo doll experiments, boys were consistently more physically aggressive than girls, doesn’t look at genetics

• Relies on Artificial Evidence- short-term laboratory experiments (Bobo doll) - not reflect how complex, long-term behaviours develop over years of real-world socialization.