Social Learning Theory

Social Learning Theory

1. Behaviour is learnt from the environment

   • If an individual identifies with the model they are more likely to imitate the behaviour.
   • Behaviour can be learnt vicariously, this is when you observe the consequences of anothers behaviour before you decide to imitate it.
   • An individual will form mental representations and consequences of a model's nehaviour to mediate and decide whether they should act in the same way.

2. Evaluation

   • Supporting research uses an experimental approach; we can establish cause and effect.
   • Focuses on human behaviour.
   • Bandura's research lacks ecological validity.

3. Bandura

   • Children observed either an aggressive of non-aggressive model.
   • There were 2 groups: 1. Children who observed an adult acting aggressively with a bobo doll 2. Children who observed a non-aggressive model playing nicely with a bobo doll.
   • Children in the aggressive condition were more likely to imitate the behaviour of the model than children in the non-aggressive condition.
   • In a follow up stdy, Bandura found that children who saw the model being rewarded for aggressive acts and were more likely to imitate the aggression.