social learning theory

what is social learning theory (SLT)

suggests all behaviour is learnt and that learning is a social process, we learn by observing and imitating/copying the behaviour of role models

» learning involves cognitive factors which influence how likely we are to perform behaviour

define what is identification and modelling

identification - we are most likely to imitate/ copy the behaviour of role models = people we identify and associate ourselves with because of shared characteristics e.g. ethnicity, age

modelling - role model demonstrates a given behaviour which the person observes and imitates/ copies

what is vicarious reinforcement and outline this process

being indirectly reinforced by observing the consequences a person receives for a given behaviour

e.g. if role model (which we identify with) performs a behaviour and we witness them being positively reinforced - by given a reward, this motivates us to behave similarly to gain those rewards ourselves

what are mediational processes

(ARMM) 4 cognitive processes which influence how we learn AR and produce MM a given behaviour:

attention - noticing behaviour

retention - remembering behaviour

motor reproduction - ability to perform behaviour

motivation - willingness to perform behaviour

outline SLT research (procedure, findings)

BANDURA - bobo doll study

procedure: children pps placed into 3 conditions and then taken to a room alone with the bobo doll and observed:

-aggressive shown video of adult being physically and verbally abusive towards a bobo doll

-non aggressive shown video of adult being gentle towards bobo doll

-none (control) were not shown video

findings: those who observed aggressive video behaved more violently, boys more aggressive than girls, greater level of imitation if role model was the same gender as child

» another version of study was carried out and found the most aggressive children were those who observed video of role model being praised for acting aggressively

strength + weakness + weakness

:) real world application - SLT principles can be used to explain peoples behaviour e.g. why people commit crimes if exposed to bad role models (observe and imitate the negative behaviour), how children learn from others around them and the media (make child restrictions avoid them picking up neg behaviour)

:) considers how cognitive factors influence learning and production of a behaviour via mediational processes

:( BANDURA study - only studied how children observe and imitate behaviour from role models, cannot generalise to wider populations e.g. adults who are more morally developed, lab study means controlled conditions however childrens behaviour likely to be artifical, unrepresentative of aggression in real life scenarios reducing validity