Social learning theory

Introduction

• Social learning theory is another example of a learning theory
• It was first put forward by Albert Bandura in 1971 as an update to the older classical and operant conditioning theories
• Social learning theory emphasises the role of cognitive processes in learning, not just stimulus-response relationships

Key concepts

• Social learning theory suggests we learn by observing others
• If we see the behaviour of other people being reinforced (vicarious reinforcement) then we are influenced to imitate the behaviour
• We pay particular attention to role models and learn from their behaviour because these are the people we identify with most
• For example, children are prone to copying behaviour of athletes or TV characters who they view as role models
• When they see their behaviour being rewarded they are even more likely to copy them

Mediational processes

• The role of mediational processes is in learning and 'doing' the behaviour seen
• Behaviour is noticed by others = attention
• And remembered = retention
• The behaviour may be copied later = motor reproduction
• Then, if there is a reward = motivation

Bandura's research

• During the 1960s, Bandura conducted research on the transmission of human behaviour through observation
• His work was an extension of behaviourist theories because he accepted the role of learning in behaviour, but was also interested in how cognitive processes were involved

Bandura's Bobo doll experiments

• Aim: To see if children would learn and imitate aggression from watching adult role models
• Procedure: Children observed either an adult role model being aggressive towards a Bobo doll, or a demonstration of non-aggressive behaviour towards the doll. The children were then exposed to mild frustration before being left in a room with a Bobo doll
• Results: Many of the children who saw the adult being aggressive went on to imitate the aggression on the doll. Less aggression was seen in the group who watched the non-aggressive adult behaviour
• Conclusion: Children exposed to aggressive role models are likely to imitate their behaviour

Evaluation

• +SLT accepts that cognitive processes are involved in learning and it is not just an automatic process
• +There is a great deal of research evidence supporting the claim that we learn from the observation of others, for example, Bandura's Bobo doll studies from the 1960s
• +SLT can have useful applications. For example, social skills training aims to model positive behaviour to reduce criminal behaviour
• -SLT tends to ignore the role of biological factors in shaping behaviour
• -Much of the evidence to support SLT comes from laboraotry studies. Therefore it may explain behaviour in controlled settings but may not relate to real-life behaviour in the same way
• -SLT has been used to argue that violent media can increase violent behaviour, especially in children. However, some people argue that aggressive people are drawn to violent media as an outlet for their impulses