social learning theory

Paper 2: Approaches

social learning theory (SLT)

• key psychologist - Albert Bandura (1961)

• key research - Bobo doll experiment (1961)

what are the key assumptions of the social learning theory?

• much of our behaviour is learned from experience.

• However, SLT proposes it is through observation and imitation.

• Therefore it may be through indirect experience

definition of vicarious learning

reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced or punishes for a behaviour. This is a key factor in imitation.

what is the mediational process (bridge between behaviourism and cognitive approach)?

1. ATTENTION (exposure)

2. RETENTION (memory)

3. MOTOR RETENTION (physical ability/opportunity)

4. MOTIVATION (direct/vicarious reinforcement)

• unlike Skinner - Bandura believed people are information processors

what was the aim of the Bobo doll experiment?

to investigate imitative response patterns to new settings in which the model is absent.

who are the participants of the Bobo doll experiment

• 36 boys, 36 girls enrolled in Stanford Universtiy Nursing School

• their age ranged from 37 - 69 months (mean age 52 months)

• there were 8 groups + 1 control, 4 groups were exposed to aggressive models, and 4 groups were exposed to non-aggressive models (subdivided into boys and girls, → half exposed to same-gender models)

explain the process of the Bobo doll experiment

1. the subjects were brought individually to the experimental room and placed in a corner with lots of toys

• the aggressive model would be in another corner of the room, they would start playing with the tinker set, but then moved on to the Bobo doll

• the non-aggressive model ignored the Bobo doll and just played with the tinker set

2. the subject was brought to a different room - different setting, prior to imitation all subjects were subjected to mild aggression

• the subject was put in a room with toys: 3-foot bobo doll, tinker set, crayons, etc. the toys were all in a set position.

• the experimentor watched the subjects for 20 mins each

what were the findings of the experiment?

• those who didnt see an aggressuve model werent aggressive

• aggressive model group only imitated aggressive acts

• boys were more physically aggressive (both genders were verbally aggressive)

• boys would imitate male models more than female models (girls imitated both)

what was the conclusion that could be taken from this experiment?

Therefore, the experiment shows childrem exposed to aggressive models are more likely to imitate the aggressive behaviour when no model is present.

what are the strengths of the banduras bobo doll experiment?

• the experiment used both genders

• it was a controlled environment - high control

• useful application → prevent childhood exposure to aggressive things

what are the limitations of the banduras bobo doll experiment?

• only had 72 children - low participant numbers (6 in each group, therefore easily swayed by anomalies)

• low generalisability - population validity

• low ecological validity - artificial experiment

what are the strengths of the socil learning theory?

• can use this theory to explain a lot - behaviours, face validity

• research support

• considers behaviourism and cognitive

what are the limitations of the socil learning theory?

• limited research - ethics

• doesnt consider nature - genetics

• research is artificial - lab experiment