social learning theory

What does the social learning theory believe?

behaviour is learnt through…

observing and imitating others

Human learning is explained through…

observational learning

What plays an important role in SLT?

mediating cognitive factors

What is vicarious reinforcement?

learners are more motivated to imitate behaviours if they…

observe role models being rewarded

Whats involved in SLT to scientifically observe behaviour?

laboratory experiments

What does the term 'black box' refer to in the context of SLT?

cognitive factors such as…

internal mental processes that mediate stimulus and response

What's imitation?

an individual observes a…

model’s behaviour and replicates it

What's identification?

the extent an individual relates to a model and feels that they’re…

similar or they have a quality they’d like to possess

What does research show regarding identification?

children are more likely to identify with/learn from models that are…

especially if they’re the…

similar to them, same gender

What are the four mediational processes?

attention, retention, reproduction, motivation

What's a study regarding SLT?

banduras bobo doll

What did Bandura want to study?

whether children would…

imitate aggressive behaviours from adults

What was Banduras process?

half of children exposed to…

aggressive model, half to non aggressive model

Aggressive model…, "POW" = ?

struck doll, verbal aggression

Children were then frustrated as they saw…, and taken to room with…

dolls they weren't allowed to play with, bobo doll

What did Bandura find?

children with an aggressive model displayed…

physical and verbal acts of aggression

those with the non aggressive model showed…

no aggression

1/3 repeated the models…

verbal responses

Imitation of aggression was more likely if the adult model was of the same…

gender

What was Banduras conclusions?

children learn aggressive behaviours indirectly through…

observing and imitating behaviours displayed by models

What was a conclusion in a follow up experiment?

if children observed the model being rewarded for aggression, they were…

more likely to display a higher level of aggression

What is this an example of? (observing reward)

vicarious reinforcement

AO3-Evaluation: strength

Useful applications

Akers- people more likely to engage in criminal behaviour if exposed to models committing it.

They identify with model + develop expectation of positive consequences.

Promote positive models to reduce this.

Therefore, useful applications to…

reduce delinquency

AO3- Evaluation: strength

Research support for identification.

More likely to imitate if observe similar model to them.

Fox + Bailenson (2009): virtual generated humans exercising or loitering.

Model either similar or not to ppt. If similar, ppt engaged in exercise/loitering.

Therefore, this supports…

identification

AO3- Evaluation: limitation

Issues explaining cause of behaviour

Claims increased associations w deviant peers = imitate deviancy

However, Siegal + McCormick found deviant young ppl seek peers w same attitude, as they’re more fun.

Therefore, cause of delinquency=prior attitudes, so…

issue explaining cause

AO3- Evaluation: limitation

Doesn’t address biological factors

Testosterone’s role in aggression.

Boys more likely to imitate aggressive behaviour than girls.

Bandura’s findings support this

Therefore, this finding can’t be explained by…

social learning