Social learning Theory

Social learning Theory

1. Behaviour not random we watch others and model behaviours on others

2. Observational learning, where people watch others and copy them thus learning new behaviours

3. Learning is a two way process withe environment and participant interacting

4. Features

   • Modelling - Behaviour is modelled by a role model
   • Observation - Behaviour is observed and noted
   • Imitation - Behaviour is imitated depending on reinforcement/punishement
   • Vicarious reinforcement - Whether the behaviour is imitated depends on role model being punished/rewarded

5. 4 stages

   • Attention
     • Pay attention to target behaviour
   • Retention
     • Retaining behaviour just observed and younger children will find this harder to do
   • Reproduction
     • Having the ability to actually reproduce the behaviour
   • Motivation
     • Being motivated to carry out the behaviour
       • If a reward is offered, more likely to reproduce the behaviour

6. Vicarious reinforcement

   • Seeing the consequences of the behaviour for the role model and choosing whether to copy the behaviour or not
   • If role model is rewarded, we are more likely to copy them
   • If role model is punished, we are not likely to copy them
   • In modelling, no requirements for reinforcement to actually learn the behaviour
   • Reinforcement can affect when and where the behaviour is displayed
   • 4 stages
     • Modelling effect - People directly copy a behaviour that they would not have seen before modelling
     • Elicting effect - Observer copies the effect but slightly different
     • Disinhibiting effect - Someone would not normally carry out behaviour does so after seeing no negative consequences
     • Inhibitory effect - People stop doing behaviour after seeing a negative consequence for role model
   • Role models
     • Characteristics help determine whether behaviour will be copied
     • Role models more likely to be imitated are usually of the same gender, a similar age and a high status
   • Modelling is the process of the role model being identified with and involved as well the role model demonstrating behaviour

7. Strengths

   • Kubinyi 2003 - Social learning demonstrated in dogs as when they observed owners pushing a handle, they pushed it as well
   • Lot of supporting evidence for the theory
   • Useful in explaining human behaviour such as aggression and gender development
   • Applied to therapy increasing credibility and generalisability
   • Can be used to treat OCD
   • Takes into account cognitive process involvement
   • Cook and Mineka 1990 - Demonstrated the existence of observational learning of fear in monkeys
   • Explanation of the learning of new behaviours
   • Olsson et al 2007 - Demonstrated in 11 males, fear can be acquired through observation

8. Weaknesses

   • Limitations in testing the theory as behaviour observed may not be repeated immediently
   • Some experiments carried out on animals so cannot be applied to humans