Social Learning Theory

Social Learning Theory

1. Stages of SLT

   • Attention: The individual needs to pay attention to the behavior and its consequences and form a mental representation of the behavior.
   • Retention: Storing the observed behavior in LTM where it can stay for a long period of time. Imitation is not always immediate.
   • Reproduction: The individual must be able (have the ability and skills) to reproduce the observed behavior.
   • Motivation: Individuals must expect to receive the same positive reinforcements (vicarious reinforcement) for imitating the observed behavior that they have seen the model receiving.
   • Imitation is also more likely if we identify with the model. We see them as sharing some characteristics with us i.e. similar age, gender, social status as we identify with them.

2. Learn through observation and imitation of others’ behavior.

3. Bobo doll study - Bandura et al.

   • Lab exp
     • Could give demand characteristics as it was an unfamiliar environment and the task did not reflect the way the participants behave in their normal life.
   • Sample: American children, 36 boys and 36 girls aged between 3-6 years old .

4. Application

   • Phobias being modelled by parent with whom they identify with
   • Watershed - programmes with violence, sexual content or obscene language only shown after 9pm.

5. Explains how humans learn complex behaviour so quickly through observation and imitation. Which behaviorism fails to mention.

6. Ignores nature side - people may be born with predispositions to certain behaviours (like aggression) and don’t need role models.

7. Doesnt explain biological factors e.g. testosterone which may have influenced why boys were more agreesive than girls