Key Terms:

Imitation:

Identification:

When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model.

Modelling:

From the observer’s perspective, modelling is imitating the behaviour of a role model. From the role model’s perspective, modelling is the precise demonstration of a specific behaviour that may be imitated by an observer.

Vicarious reinforcement:

Reinforcement which isn’t directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour. This is a key factor in imitation.

Mediational processes:

Cognitive factors that influence learning and come between stimulus and response.

Assumptions:

Albert Bandura agreed with the Behaviourists
Much of our behaviour is learned from experience
People learn through observation and imitation of others within a social context
It can occur directly via classical and operant conditioning but it can also happen indirectly

Vicarious reinforcement:

For indirect learning to take place an individual observes the behaviour of others.
Imitation only works if the behaviour is seen to be rewarded rather than punished
The learner observes a behaviour but most importantly observes the consequences of a behaviour

The role of the mediational processes:

SLT is often described as the bridge between traditional learning theory and the cognitive approach
It focuses on how mental factors are involved in learning
These mental factors mediate the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired.

Four mental or mediational processes in learning were identified by Bandura:

Attention- The extent to which we notice certain behaviours
Retention- How well the behaviour is remembered
Motor reproduction- The ability of the observer to perform the behaviour
Motivation- The will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished
The first two of these relate to the learning of behaviour
The last two to the performance of behaviour
The learning and performance of behaviour need not occur together
Observed behaviours may be stored by the observer and reproduced at a later time

Identification:

People especially children are much more likely to imitate the behaviour of people whom they identify, called role models

This is called modelling:

Someone becomes a role model if they are seen to possess similar characteristics to the observer and/or are attractive and have high status
Role models may not necessarily be physically present in the environment
This has important implications for the influence of the media on behaviour

Bandura et al experiment:

The experiment recorded the behaviour of young children who watched an adult behave in an aggressive way towards a Bobo doll
The adult hit the doll with a hammer and shouted abuse it
Later the children were observed playing with the doll much more aggressively towards the doll than other toys than those who had observed a non-aggressive adult