Outline and evaluate the assumptions of social learning theory (16 marks)

Social learning theory is a theory which is developed from behaviourism and suggests that whilst behaviour is learned from experience, it is also learned through observation. Bandura, the psychologist who proposed social learning theory suggested that there are four mediational processes which allow for behaviours to be indirectly taught - attention to the action, retention of the behaviour, motor reproduction (ability to replicate the behaviour) and the motivation to repeat it. Furthermore, the vicarious (indirect) positive or negative reinforcement of behaviours, identification with others and modelling allow for behaviours to be learned through observation. Bandura based his theory on his study of aggression, colloquially known as the Bobo Doll study, in which children watched a role model (the adult confederate) beat a doll and saw them be either rewarded, or watched the same role model play peacefully with the doll. The children who observed the aggressive behaviour demonstrated similar aggression when they were left to play with the doll, which provides evidence for the existence of social learning theory. 

A strength of the social learning theory is that there is research evidence to support. Bandura's 1961 study of aggression aimed to discover whether behaviours could be learned through observation. A group of children witnessed a role model beat a "Bobo" doll who was rewarded for such behaviour - when left, the children demonstrated the same behaviours. Similarly, Bandura and Walters (1963) showed videos of the role model either beating or playing peacefully to two groups of children, and compared their behaviours to a control group who observed no material. The children who saw the aggressive behaviour were most likely to demonstrate aggression towards the doll, and the peaceful play group least likely to be aggressive towards the doll. This supports the theory of social learning as it suggests that the children were imitating the role model they saw and copied the modelled behaviour. This is important as it allows for the social learning theory to be seen as credible due to the research support.  

A weakness of the social learning theory is due to evidence being based on laboratory studies. Bandura's Bobo doll studies of 1961 and 1963 took place in a controlled laboratory setting. This means that the results have low external validity, as it is likely the participants were displaying demand characteristics due to the artificial setting. Furthermore, the artificiality of the experiment means that mediational processes were more easily able to be used. The controlled environment would limit distractions, ensuring the children had significant attention and retention of the behaviour, as well as the easy availability of the same doll they saw in modelling. The combination of low external validity, demand characteristics and artificial environment are all significant in reducing the credibility and validity of the evidence upon which social learning theory is based, partially discrediting the theory. 

A strength of social learning theory is that it is more comprehensive than behaviourism. Social learning theory also considers the impact of observation as well as direct experience in behaviours and the role of mediationsl processes. These mediational processes suggest that humans are more active in learning behaviours than behaviourists believe. However, unlike behaviourism, social learning theory does allow for free will to explain why some behaviours are carried out. This is more comprehensive as it provides more ways and explanations for behaviours than behaviourism, which is important in holistic approaches. 

A weakness of the social learning theory is that it ignores biological factors which may affect the theory. Though in Bandura's study the first group expressed more aggression overall, the girls in the group were less aggressive than the boys. This may suggest that boys are biologically more predisposed to aggressive behaviours, for example due to hormones. This is important as it fails to explain why there are certain differences between the genders, limiting the ability to generalise the theory.