Social learning perspective (bandura)

Basic assumptions: 1)

Behaviour is learned from the environment so theory doesn't regard genetics as an influence on behaviour

2)

Behaviour is learned from observing others & the reinforcement/punishment they receive

3)

Not entirely a behaviourist approach - considers cognitive processes

Overall (1)

Bandura conducted numerous experiments with bobo dolls focused on investigating how aggression is learned

(2)

generally involved children observing adults being physically & verbally aggressive to a large inflatable doll by attacking it with a mallet, throwing it, punching it, shouting at it etc

(3)

after children were allowed to play with the bobo doll & their behaviour was recorded

(4)

he noted that the children would imitate the adults behaviour & find new ways of being aggressive to the dolls

The experiment (1)

were many variations of these experiments

example

3 groups of nursery school children were shown a video of an adult attacking a bobo doll with 3 different endings:

-adult given sweets for good performance

-adult scolded & smacked for being aggressive

-no reward or punishment (control group)

Afterwards

-Group 1 = most aggressive

-Group 2 = least aggressive

-Control group = in between

(2)

showed children's behaviour is influenced by what they observe & by reward & punishment

(3)

when researchers began to reward all aggressive behaviour, the least aggressive group became equally aggressive - shows learning was the same even though the initial behaviour was different

Conclusions:

A) An aggressive model teaches children new ways of being aggressive

B) the aggression is generalised. not just towards the bobo doll

C) some models are more likely to be imitated than others. Models who have the most influence will be:

i) people who are warm & loving to children

ii) people who have power

iii) People who are similar eg same gender

Developing the theory (1)

Bandura used these experiments to develop SLT which claims that children learn by imitating role models ie through observational learning as well as by reinforcement

(2)

he claimed learning by observing someone else achieving good results is more efficient than learning by trial and error or waiting for reinforcement to be given as suggested by skinner

(3)

this theory explains how children learn more complex behaviours eg language

Identification

in the theory identification is a progression from simply imitating a model and involves 'internalising' the role ie the role becomes part of the individual & is no longer simply being imitated

imitation

an individual observes and copies a behaviour

identification

when an individual is influenced by another as they are in some way similar or wish to be like them

modelling

if the individual imitates someone's behaviour later

vicarious reinforcement

they see someone else get rewarded & learn by observing the consequences of someone else's behaviour