Social Learning Theory

Social Learning Theory

1. Tolman and Honzik

2. Kohler

   • Role of Cognition

3. Assumptions

   • Learning takes place in a social Context
   • Learn through observation, reinforcement, punishment
   • Other people are models, characteristics of the models influence if behaviour is imitated
   • Social conditions must be correct for learned behaviour to be performed
   • Reciprocal Determinism
     • Social Environment
     • Cognition
     • Actual Behaviour
   • Personal Agency
     • We make choices to improve our lives
   • Collective Agency
     • People with shared beliefs come together and improve each others lives
   • Soft Determinism

4. Mediating Cognitive Factors

   • Attention
   • Retention
   • Reproduction
     • Self Efficacy
       • McCromick and McPherson
         • Musicians with higher self efficacy performed better in auditions
       • Manning and Wright
         • Women with high SE were better able to manage pain during child-birth
   • Motivation

5. Bandura's Experiment

   • 3 Groups
     • Seen the Adult rewarded
     • Seen the Adult Punished
     • No reaction given

6. Observational Learning

   • Bandura
     • Children either seen adult being aggressive or not, with no reinforcement
   • Models
     • Characteristics
       • Similar (age/sex)
       • High Status
       • Simple Behaviours
     • Self Efficacy

7. Evaluation

   • Strengths
     • Good development on Behaviourism
     • Scientific Experiments
     • Self Efficacy has been applied in many areas
   • Limitations
     • Ignores biological influence
     • While it recognises the role of cognition, it ignores mental conflicts
     • Banduras Experiments, Task issues, ethical issues

8. Applications

   • Gender
     • Reinforced
       • Dweck (Reinforcement in School)
       • Fagot (Parents Playing)
     • Imitated
       • Masters (Wont imitate gender inappropriate behaviour)
       • Perry and Bussey (Imitate Models)
     • Mead (Cross Cultural Study)
   • Substance Abuse
     • Norms
       • Garneir and Stein (18 years)
       • Taiwan/Korea
       • Perkins and Berkowitz (Social Norm Approach)
     • Models
       • Sarafino (Attitudes of role models are important)
     • Peers
       • Stein (Parents/Peers)
       • Killen (Smoking Friends)
     • Social Control Theory