Social Learning Theory

This theory suggests that there are mental processes that take place between stimulus and response.

Learning can be stored and used later

IMITATION

Behaviour will be imitated and copied from others

IDENTIFICATION

There needs to be some characteristic in the model that someone identifies with

MODELLING

Models are people that are observed

VICARIOUS REINFORCEMENT

Reinforcement that is observed

For example someone getting rewarded for a certain action would cause someone else to imitate that behaviour later on

MEDIATIONAL PROCESSES

Cognitive factors that affect is a new behaviour is learned or not

Attention

The behaviour needs to be modelled by someone that an individual wants to imitate

Retention

This is how well the modelled behaviour is remembered

Reproduction

Trying the new behaviour

The individual needs to believe they are capable of reproducing the behaviour

Motivation

There needs to be motivation to replicate the behaviour

This could be because the model is someone that is admired or because the behaviour was rewarded in some way

EVALUATION

+   Scientific methods

-    Artificial settings used in experiments

+   Takes into account cognitive factors (addresses behaviourist approach critisism)

BANDURA

Hypothesis

If children were passive witnesses to an aggressive display by an adult they would…