Social learning theory

What is the social learning theory

1977 by Albert Bundura, “individuals are not born with knowledge of aggression, skills must be learned.

The three aspects of aggression

• how aggressive patterns of behaviours are developed

• what provokes aggression

• what determines whether it will continue on future occasions.

Status and power

aggression = carries powerful status, acts of violence performed to gain the approval of others. Bandura makes connection to crime learned- approval of friends = important motivation for deviance, (status, power, reputation)

When looking at personality + social psychology there is a important difference between status and power

DEFINITION of social learning

theory suggests that people learn behaviours through observation, esp. those w imitation, and modelling, particularly from others in their social environment. However, not all people copy all behaviour.

Learning by observation

Attention = watch models behaviour and consequences, otherwise we will not regeconize the features of their behaviour and thus also the consequences. influenced by:

• capabilities of observer

• motivation and interest levels of observer

• situation which the behaviour is being observed.

• distracters

  

• The characteristics of the model, such as attractiveness

Observation retention

Learnt behaviour needs to be stored in memory as mental representation, to be recalled later when necessary. Also a cognitive aspect, stored to be later reproduced.

Observation reproduction

Needs to have physical and psychological capacity to perform behaviour

does not perform action - has the ability to convert mental representations into actions.

Observation/ motivation

Learner must WANT to imitate the learnt behaviour - based on whether they believe there will be reinforcement/good consequences for reproducing it

Observation/reinforcement

Learner must perceive reward for repeating the observed behaviour

if modelled behaviour shows favourable consequence, person will be motivated to repeat the actions as they expect the same reward. If nor reinforced, not likely to be repeated.