Social Cognitive Theory

Social Cognitive Theory

Assumes that humans learn behavior through observational learning; people can learn by watching models and imitating their behavior

Vicarious Reinforcement

Describes how we don’t need positive reinforcement ourselves to continue learning, just the fact that a model is being rewarded/punished is enough

What are the cognitive factors involved in social cognitive learning? (4)

Attention, Retention, Motivation, Potential

Attention in social cognitive learning

In order to learn, learns must pay attention to the model - this may be affected by the attractiveness/authority of the model or the desirability of the behavior

Retention in social cognitive learning

Learners must remember the behavior observed to perform it immediately/later

Motivation in social cognitive learning

Learners must want to replicate the observed behavior, meaning that they must understand what the potential outcome is if they repeat the behavior - Outcome expectancies (Bandura)

Potential in social cognitive learning

Observes must physically/mentally be able to perform the behavior - there must be a certain level of self efficacy

Self efficacy

One’s belief in one’s ability to successfully accomplish a task

What are the 3 parts of Motivation?

Consistency: we are more likely to imitate models that behave consistently across situations

Identification w/model: we are more likely to imitate models that are like us

Liking the model: we are more likely to imitate warm and friendly models

What effect does self efficacy have on social cognitive learning?

It largely effects whether or not learners imitate model behavior because if they have low self-efficacy, they are less likely to imitate the model in fear of failure

What are the advantages (3) and disadvantages (2) of social cognitive theory?

+Explains why behaviors can be passed down within families/cultures

+Explains why some children can acquire knowledge w/o trial and error

+Can be applied to health programs, preventative programs, etc. → Sabido Method

-Behaviors are acquired but not necessarily demonstrated immediately, which makes it hard to determine if the behavior was formed 100% by observing a model

-Doesn’t explain why some people never learn a behavior despite fulfilling all cognitive factors of social cognitive learning

Bandura et Al

Aim: To see if children would imitate aggression modeled by adults, AND to osee if children were more likely to imitate same-sex models

Design: Matched pairs, children were matched to the aggressive/non-aggressive conditions based on evaluations of their behavior by teachers/family

Conditions: Aggressive (physical/verbal abuse towards bobo doll), non-aggressive (building a toy), control (no model)

Results:

1. Children in the aggressive condition demonstrated observational learning because they showed more aggression afterwards

2. Girls were more likely to follow verbal aggression, boys more likely to follow physical aggression

3. Boys made comments about what female models should/shouldn’t do, showing that they were more likely to imitate same-sex models.

Huesmann and Eron (1986)

Longitudinal 15 year study showing positive correlation between hours of violence watched on TV as children and the level of violence displayed as teens

Kimball et al (1986)

Canadian children were shown to be more aggressive two years after TV was introduced to them