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The Social Learning Theory - Coggle Diagram
The Social Learning Theory
Basic Assumptions of The Social Learning Theory
Behaviour is learned from the environment so therefore it does not regard genetics as an influence on behaviour
Behaviour is learned from observing others and the reinforcement or punishment they receive
Banduras Bobo Doll Study (1961)
Aim : To examine the effect of the continual influence of the model . To examine if the sex of the model influenced same-sex and opposite-sex participants to a differing degree
Procedure : 36 male and 36 female participants with their age ranging from 37 to 69 months and mean age of 4 . A male and female were the role models for the experiment . There were 8 groups , half the groups observed an agressive role model and the other half observed a non agressive role model . The aggressive model hit the bobo doll and shouted abuse at it . After witnessing the behaviour for 10 minutes participants endured an aggression arousal by being told they couldn’t play with the toys . They were then told they could play with the toys (agressive and non agressive toys) . The participants were observed for 20 mins
Findings : children who observed the aggressive model behaved more aggressively . Boys were more aggressive than girls . Greater level of imitation if the role model was the same gender
Conclusions : there is a behavioural effect from observing aggressive behaviour and this behaviour continues after a delay
Evaluation : the effects of SLT are still only short term in this experiment and it is difficult to see whether there are any long term effects . There are issues with interpreting behaviour as all being influenced by SLT , the bobo doll is designed to be hit so this affects the validity of the experiment
Imitation : when an individual observes behaviour from a role model and copies it , it is not complete copying it is a simulation
Identification : when an individual is influenced by another because they are in some way similar or wish to be like them . There are many factors influencing the choice of model such as gender , ethnicity , higher status . Identification does not occur unless there is a reason
Modelling : when someone is influential on an individual in some way they are referred to as a model . If the individual then imitated the behaviour this is called modellling
Vicarious Reinforcement : the reinforcement the observer sees the model receiving . A reinforcement such as a reward makes a behaviour more likely to happen again , when it is vicarious the person learns by observing the consequences of another persons behaviour
Mediational Processes : the thought prior to imitation , occurs between observing the behaviour (stimulus ) and imitating it or not ( response )
Attention : we observe so many behaviours on a daily basis but they are not noteworthy
Retention : Much of SLT is not immediate so this is vital . Even if the behaviour is imitated shortly after seeing it , it still needs to be remembered
Reproduction : We are limited by our physical ability so this influenced our decision over whether to imitate the behaviour
Motivation : the rewards and punishments that follow a behaviour will be considered by an observer . If the perceived rewards outweigh the perceived costs then the behaviour is likely to be imitated
Evaluation of SLT
Takes thought processes into account and acknowledges the role that they play in deciding if a behaviour is imitated or not
Can successfully explain the initiation of certain behaviours e.g starting smoking
Not a full explanation of behaviour . This is particularly the case when there is no apparent role model , for example a criminal in a family of innocent people
Uses a variety of research methods , sometimes can be criticised as being unscientific
