THE LEARNING APPROACH: SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

How is learning and performance in SLT different to behaviourism?

Unlike traditional behaviourism, the learning and performance of behaviour need not occur together.

What is identification?

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

When does a person become a role model?

A person becomes a role model if they are seen to possess similar characteristics to the observer and/or are attractive and have high status.

What is social learning theory?

A way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors.

What is the fourth mediational process?

Motivation - the will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished.

What did Bandura agree with the behaviourists on?

Albert Bandura agreed with the behaviourists that much of our behaviour is learned from experience.

What did Albert Bandura propose social learning theory as?

Albert Bandura proposed social learning theory as a development of the behaviourist approach.

Quote by Bandura which backs up his ideas.

As Bandura observed: 'Learning would be extremely laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to reply solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. From observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviours are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide to action' (Bandura 1977).

What effect does recognising the role of meditational processes have?

As such, SLT provides a more comprehensive explanation of human learning by recognising the role of mediational processes.

What is the first mediational process?

Attention - the extent to which we notice certain behaviours.

What is the third mediational process?

Motor reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour.

What did Bandura emphasise and what does it mean?

Bandura emphasised reciprocal determinism, in the sense that we are not merely influenced by our external environment, but we also exert an influence upon it, through the behaviours we choose to perform.

What does Bandura fail to reference?

Bandura makes little reference to the impact of biological factors on social learning.

What can't classical or operant conditioning offer?

Neither classical nor operant conditioning can offer an adequate account of learning on their own.

What are mediational processes?

Cognitive factors (i.e. thinking) that influence learning and come between stimulus and response.

What is imitation?

Copying the behaviour of others.

What must happen for indirect learning to take place?

For indirect learning to take place an individual observes the behaviour of others.

What four things were identified by Bandura?

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

What is modelling from the observer's perspective?

From the observer's perspective, modelling is imitating the behaviour of a role model.

What is modelling from the role model's perspective?

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

What did Bandura argue against behaviourism?

He argued that classical and operant conditioning could not account for all human learning - there are important mental processes that mediate between stimulus and response.

What is the difference between behaviourism and social learning theory?

However, his social learning theory (SLT) proposed a different way in which people learn: through observation and imitation of others within a social context, thus social learning.

How is the information that is stored about others' behaviour used?

Humans and mainly animals store information about the behaviour of others and use this to make judgements about when it is appropriate to perform certain actions.

What is the main criticism of the Bobo doll research?

It has been suggested, in relation to the Bobo doll research that, because of the main purpose of the doll is to strike it, the children were simply behaving in a way that they thought was expected.

Why were lab studies criticised?

Lab studies are often criticised for their contrived nature where participants may respond to demand characteristics.

How did Bandura develop his ideas?

Many of Bandura's ideas were developed through observation of young children's behaviour in lab settings.

What happens to an observed behaviour?

Observed behaviours may be stored by the observer and reproduced at a later time.

What was one consistent finding in the Bobo doll experiment?

One consistent finding in the Bobo doll experiments was that boys were often more aggressive than girls regardless of the specifics of the experimental situation.

Who are most likely to imitate?

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

What is vicarious reinforcement?

Reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour.

What is the second mediational process?

Retention - how well the behaviour is remembered.

What don't role models have to be to become a role model?

Role models may not necessarily be physically present in the environment, and this has important implications for the influence of the media on behaviour.

How is social learning theory often described?

SLT is often described as the 'bridge' between traditional learning theory and the cognitive approach because it focuses on how mental (cognitive) factors are involved in learning.

How did social learning theory suggest that learning occurs?

SLT suggested that learning occurs directly, through classical and operant conditioning, but also indirectly.

What can social learning principles account for?

Social learning principles can account for how children learn from other individuals around them, as well as through the media, and this can explain how cultural norms are transmitted through particular societies.

What is the important observation in indirect learning?

Thus, the learner observes a behaviour but most importantly observes the consequences of a behaviour.

What advantage does social learning theory have?

Social learning theory has the advantage of being able to explain cultural differences in behaviour.

What are the six main aspects to the learning approach social learning theory?

Social learning theory including imitation, identification, modelling, vicarious reinforcement, the role of mediational processes and Bandura's research.

What do the first two, and then the second two mediational process relate to?

The first two of these relate to the learning of behaviour and the last two to the performance of behaviour.

What happens as a result of indirect learning and under what circumstances?

The learner may imitate this behaviour but, in general, imitation only occurs if the behaviour is seen to be rewarded (reinforced) rather than punished, i.e. vicarious reinforcement occurs.

What do these mental (cognitive) factors do in terms of the learning process?

These mental factors mediate (i.e. intervene) in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired.

What does reciprocal determinism suggest?

This element of choice suggests that there is some free will in the way we behave.

How has the fact that social learning theory can explain cultural differences proved useful?

This has proved useful in understanding a range of behaviours, such as how children come to understand their gender role.

What is vicarious reinforcement a key factor in?

This is a key factor in imitation.

What can the fact that boys were more aggressive than girls be explained by?

This may be explained by hormonal factors, such as differences in levels of testosterone, a hormone that is present in greater quantities in boys than girls and which is linked to increased aggressive behaviour.

What does the fact that boys have higher testosterone mean for social learning theory?

This means that this important influence on behaviour is not accounted for in SLT.

What is the process of imitating the behaviour of people with whom they identify called?

This process is called modelling.

How does the confounding variable of the Bobo doll affect the application of findings?

Thus the research may tell us little about how children actually learn aggression in everyday life.