social learning theory

social learning theory

1. Modelling

   • someone must model (carry out) attitude for behaviour to be learned
     • live model
       • could be a parent, teacher or a member of a peer group.
     • symbolic model
       • someone portrayed in the media.

2. Imitation

   • Most behaviour and attitudes child learns through parents
     • whole patterns of behaviour can be rapidly acquired
   • Key determinants of whether behaviour is imitated --> characteristics of model, observers perceived ability to perform that behaviour and the observed consequences of the behaviour.

3. Identification

   • Refers to the extent which individual relates to a model and feels they’re similar to them.
   • In order to identify
     • must feel similar enough to be likely to experience same situation outcomes.
   • Shutts et al. 2010
     • children were more likely to identify and learn from models who are similar
       • age
       • same sex

4. Vicarious Reinforcement

   • Ban dura's findings
   • individuals learn about the likely consequences of an action then adjust their behaviour.
   • We observe then make judgements of likelihood to experience these outcomes

5. meditational processes

   • Social learning differs
     • internal mental processes is important
   • Bandura
     • observer must form mental representations of behaviour displayed and probable consequences of it in terms of future outcome expectancies.

6. strengths

   • SLT has useful applications
     • Ulrish (2003
       • strongest cause of violent behaviour in adolescence was associated with peer groups, violence was both modelled and rewarded
   • observing a model similar to self leads to more learning than observing a dissimilar one
     • . Fox and Ballenson (2009)
       • virtual’ humans
         • similar --> more exercise

7. weaknesses

   • causality
     • deviant behaviour may not be due to deviant role models but the possession of deviant attitudes prior to contact with these deviant peers.
   • complexity
     • disregards any other potential influences on our behaviour
       • child is exposed to many different influences and are