Social Learning

Social Learning Theory

• Key Terms:
• Social learning theory - A way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement, combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors
• Imitation - Copying the behaviours of others
• Identification - When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model
• Modelling - Imitating the behaviour of a role model (observer pov)/Precise demonstration of a specific behaviour (role models pov)
• Vicarious reinforcement - Reinforcemnt which is not directly experienced by someone else being reinforced for a behaviour
• Mediational processes - Cognitive factors that influence learning and come between stimulus and response
• Assumptions:
• Albert Bandura agreed with the behaviourists that much of our behaviour is lean red from experience. However, his social learning theory (SLT) proposed a different way in which people learn: through observation and imitation of others within a social context. SLT suggested that learning occurs directly, through classical and operant conditioning, but also indirectly.

Slide 2

• Vicarious reinforcement