Social Learning and Mirror Neurons

This set of flashcards covers key concepts from the lecture on social learning theory, the Bobo doll experiment, and the biological role of mirror neurons.

Albert Bandura

The researcher known for pioneering experiments on media violence, aggression, and the Bobo doll.

Bobo doll experiments

A series of studies demonstrating that children can learn physical and verbal aggression by observing others.

Cognitive component

The stage of social learning involving rehearsal and encoding where individuals take information into their brains to understand a cognitive scheme for behavior.

Motor reproduction

The process where an individual acts out a behavior themselves after observing others engage in that behavior.

Motivating factor

The reward or vicarious experience that leads an individual to reproduce specific actions they have observed.

Desensitization

An effect of being exposed to high levels of media aggression or violence in a social media world, leading to a reduced emotional or cognitive response to aggression.

Mirror neurons

Specified neurons in the frontal cortex that are activated either by performing a specific action or by seeing another person perform that same action.

Frontal cortex

The specific region of the brain where mirror neurons involved in action and imitation are located.

Observational learning

A learning process created through imitation and social cognition, supported biologically by the firing of motor neurons even when not performing the action.

Correlational studies

Research that demonstrates a strong association between long-term exposure to media violence and aggressive behavior.