Social Learning Theory

Social Learning Theory

1. Can be viewed as a bridge between behaviourism and cognitive learning theories

2. Bandura

   • Learning can occur by observing others (models) in the environment
   • The mind, behaviour and environment play a big role in learning
   • Theory of Observational Learning: based on 4 conditions that he said were essential for effective modelling to occur
     • Attention
       • The individual notices someone in their environment
     • Retention
       • The individual remembers what they observed
     • Motor Reproduction
       • The individual replicates the behaviour shown by the model.
     • Motivation
       • The individual seeks to demonstrate the behaviour that they have observed
   • 1960s - Bobo Doll

3. Vicarious Reinforcement

   • Not a result of direct reinforcement but an individual's observation of another person's experience

4. Models (2 types)

   • Live models
     • who are physically present in our environment e.g. mother, teacher, popstar...
   • Symbolic Models
     • People present in films, books etc.
     • Has a greater impact in cultures where media is more widely available