Social learning theory

SLT- Albert Bandura

SLT agrees that most behaviour is learn from experience through reinforcement

However they also built on the assumptions of behaviourism further by saying that we learning indirectly through observing others in a social context.

Vicarious reinforcement

Behaviour that is observed to have positive consequences is more likely to be imitated by the observer

If the observed consequences are negative, behaviour is less likely to be repeated

Direct

Negative reinforcement(punishment)

Positive reinforcement(reward)

Indirect

Vicarious punishment

Vicarious reinforcement

Imitation

Copying actions of others

Identification

Children are more likely to imitate role models they identify with

Meditational process

Input-in the environment

Meditational processes-mental event

Output-behaviour

Modelling

Imitating the behaviour of a role model of that behaviour has been reinforced

4 Mediational processes

Attention

Retention

Reproduction

Motivation

Banderas bobo doll study aim

Bandura conducted a controlled exp to investigate if social behaviours can be acquired by observation and imitation

Banderas bobo doll study procedure

A lab experiment was used- IV was manipulated by three conditions:

-agressive model is shown to 24 children

-non agressive model shown to 24 children

-no model shown to 24 children

Banderas bobo doll study findings

Children who served aggressive model made far more aggressive responses than those in non aggressive conditions or control groups

Banderas bobo doll study conclusions

Children could learn social behaviour such as aggression through the process of observational learning and identification