SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

BANDURA

Learning by observing others and imitating their actions

Mental processes involved in learning which other behaviourists don’t acknowledge

  1. Behaviour MODELLED

  2. Observer IDENTIFIES with role model

  3. OBSERVED

  4. IMITATED and therefore learned

Reinforcement is motivational and depends on rewards etc or consequences

A-ATTENTION

R-RETENTION

R-REPRODUCTION

M-MOTIVATION


Role model’s behaviour more likely to be imitated if…

  • Similar to observer eg gender

  • High status

  • Behaviour can be observed on regular basis


VICARIOUS REINFORCEMENT-

Person works hard because a friend was rewarded for their hard work

VICARIOUS PUNISHMENT

Person doesn’t park somewhere as they saw someone else get a ticket

VICARIOUS EXTINCTION-

People stop behaving a certain way as they see other people don’t get rewarded for it


MODELLING EFFECT-

People copy a behaviour they wouldn’t have before seeing it modelled

ELLICTING EFFECT-

Behaviour copied but slightly different

DISINHIBITING EFFECT-

Someone who wouldn’t normally carry out behaviour does as they saw it modelled with no negative consequence

INHIBITORY EFFECT-

Behaviour stops as a model is seen to be punished for it


EVALUATE SLT-

-we must also consider not just environmental factors but also physiological ones which suggest learning is genetic in origin

+bandura bobo doll experiments

-other explanations like operant conditioning which explains learning in terms of consequences

+apply to behavioural therapies to improve society such as community behaviour analysis to change the behaviour of whole communities

-hard to measure as imitation often takes a long time