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Social Learning Theory - Coggle Diagram
Social Learning Theory
Key Features
Key Feature 1: Observation - Bandura believed that a key part of learning via the environment is observing the behaviour of others. This makes sense as very few behaviours could be considered to be original. This makes sense as very few behaviours could be considered to be original. Think about young children, often they learn directly through observation, to understand how to do things we like to see a demonstration first.
Key Feature 2: Imitation - This is the term used to describe when an individual observes a behaviour from a role model and copies it. The word 'imitation' is more appropriate than saying they are copying as the behaviours is often not able to be copied exactly, it is merely a simulation.
- Social learning theory is a way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors; this means the individual has to decide if they want to enact the behaviour normally based on an evaluation of the potential rewards.
. Albert Bandura proposed the theory as he agreed with the behaviourists that much of our behaviour is learned from experience, but he disagreed that it happened without any any awareness or thought.
Key Feature 3: modelling - we don't imitate everything we see everyone else do, instead we decide who to imitate based on several different considerations, only imitating the most influential people. When someone is influential in some way, they are referred to in SLT as a 'model' or 'role model'. If the individual then imitates that person's behaviour later it is called 'modelling' the behaviour. This term is only used when referring to behaviour that is imitated.
. Imitation due to identification: People (especially children) are much more likely to imitate the behaviour of people with whom they identify; role models. A person is more likely to be 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, and this has important implications for the influence of the media on behaviour: Celebrities are designed to be role models as they are normally attractive, aspirational and of high status. Role models are also likely to be the same gender as their imitator.
Key Feature 4: Vicarious Reinforcement - this is the term used to describe the reinforcement the observer sees the model receiving, vicarious means second hand, in this case via another person. They do not receive the reinforcement or punishment themselves; they see someone else get it. A reinforcement, such as money or praise, makes the observer more likely to imitate the behaviour for themselves. E.g. a younger sister observing an older sister being admired by her friends for getting a tattoo is more likely to repeat that behaviour herself. However, if she then sees the sister being punished by the parents this may reduce that motivation.
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Stages
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Motivation - rewarded (incentive or vicarious reinforcement).
Depending on the consequences, this influences the chances of producing behaviour or not.
- Vicarious reinforcement
- Vicarious punishment
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