SLT

SLT

1. Basic assumptions

   • Behaviour learnt from a combination of observation of others' behaviour and expectation of reinforcement or punishment for copying what is seen
   • Combines principles from the behaviourist and cognitive approaches
   • Key idea - imitation of others' behaviour

2. Methods

   • Laboratory experiments
   • Observations

3. Researchers

   • Bandura

4. Strengths and Limitations

   • + Adds cognitive processes to behaviourist principles - humans are able to store their observations and able to think about what behaviour to imitate; animals cannot
   • - Doesn't explain how cognitive processes work in storing and reproducing behaviour
   • - Emphasis placed on external (observable) behaviour, ignoring subjective experiences
   • + Principles based on laboratory experiments - most rigorous method and best way to establish cause and effect
   • + Less deterministic and reductionist than behaviourist approach - Bandura 'reciprocal determinism' (behaviour partly creates environment and environment influences behaviour)
   • - Laboratory experiments are artificial - low ecological validity
   • + Explains specific imitated behaviour (i.e. child coping mother cooking); learning by trial and error in operant conditioning (behaviourist) could be dangerous according to Bandura - mistakes often result in fatal consequences
   • + Explains development of culture and complex behaviours - children learn behaviour from observing media rather than just individuals around them, explaining widespread development of cultural behaviours
   • - Cumberbatch noted experimental weaknesses that encouraged children to be aggressive towards 'Bobo' doll - demand characteristics making it clear to what was expected of children; 'Bobo' doll pleasant to hit as it bounces back; novelty of 'Bobo' doll would increase aggression scores; film lasted over 3 minutes containing only aggressive acts towards the 'Bobo' doll
   • - Not so good at explaining learning of abstract ideas (i.e. moral principles of justice and fairness) - difficult to learn simply through observation and imitation of behaviour

5. Free will vs Determinism

   • Criminal behaviour is a result of early experiences
   • Individuals play role in deciding their own gender

6. Reductionist vs Holistic

   • We all learn criminal norms in the same way
   • Gender development can only be explained by the gender-related behaviour learnt from models within society

7. Idiographic vs Nomothetic

   • Believes all criminals learn develop this deviant behaviour as a result of mediating cognitive variables and vicarious reinforcement
   • All infants imitate behaviour from care-givers, for example interaction-synchrony

8. Nature vs Nurture

   • Claims that gender is a result of the gender-related behaviour modelled by agents within society
   • Sutherland's differential association theory states that criminal behaviour is learned through exposure to criminal norms