Learning Approaches: Social Learning Theory

Who is the key psychologist?

Bandura

What does the social learning theory suggest?

Learning takes place in a social context through the observation and imitations of other people’s behaviour

What does vicarious reinforcement mean?

Behaviour that’s seen to be rewarded is more likely to be copied

What are the four mediational processes in learning?

Attention - wether behaviour is noticed

Retention - wether behaviour is remembered

Motor reproduction - being able to do it

Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour

What does identification mean?

People are more likely to imitate the behaviour of those they identify with

What characteristics cause identification with role models?

Role models are similar to the observer

Are attractive

Have a high status

What did Bandura use for his study?

Bobo Dolls

Describe the procedure and findings of Banduras bobo doll study

Children who saw the aggression rewarded were much more aggressive themselves

A03 Strength: Emphasises the importance of cognitive factors

Classical/operant conditioning cannot provide a comprehensive account of human behaviour on their own

Humans/animals store info and use it when performing certain actions

SLT provides a more complete explanation as it recognises mediational processes

A03 Limitation: Relies heavily on evidence from lab studies

Ideas developed through observation of children’s behaviour in lab studies

Issue of demand characteristics

Main purpose of a bobo doll is to hit it so children in study may have been behaving in the expected way

Research tells us little about how children learn aggression in everyday life

A03 Strength: Has real world application

Social learning principles can explain how children learn from people around them and through the media - explains how cultural norms are transmitted

Helps us understand a range of behaviours e.g children understanding their gender role by imitating role models in the media

Increases value of approach as it can be applied to real world behaviours

AO3 Strength: Reciprocal determinism

We’re influenced by the environment but we also influence the environment through our behaviours

This suggests theres some free will in the way we behave

More realistic and flexible position than behaviourist approach

Recognises the role we play in shaping our environemnt