Social Learning Theory (SLT)

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What is SLT?
SLT proposed that people also learn through observation & imitation within a social context.
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How does it differ from the behaviourist approach?
Bandura argued that conditioning could not account for all human learning, as there are important cognitive factors that play a role (SLT's meditational processes)
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Imitation
When an individual observes a behaviour, then imitates it. It is merely a simulation and isn't copied exactly.
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Identification
People are more likely to imitate the behaviour of whom they identify with e.g. role models. Because they possess similar characteristics, are attractive or has high status.
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Modelling
Imitating a role model's behaviour.
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Vicarious Reinforcement
Behaviour is more likely to be imitated if the behaviour is rewarded rather than punished.
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Mediational Processes
SLT states that behaviour is observed then imitated, however there are important cognitive factors that determines whether a new behaviour is acquired. These are:
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Attention
How we notice behaviours.
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Retention
How well the behaviour has been remembered.
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Motor reproduction
The ability to preform the behaviour.
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Motivation
The will to preform a behaviour, determined by vicarious reinforcement.
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Bandura et al (1961)
Recorded the behaviour of young children who watched an adult behave aggressively towards a Bobo doll. The children observed the adult's behaviour and were more likely to imitate them because they had identified with the adult's high status.
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Bandura and Walters (1963)
Group 1, Group 2 and control group. Group 1 was praised if they behaved aggressively towards the bobo doll, 2 was punished and the control group - nothing. Group 1 had showed much more aggression as they believed if they imitated this behaviour they
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Continued
they would be rewarded.
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(+) Emphasises cognitive factors
SLT offers a more detailed explanation of human learning by recognising the role of meditational processes, as opposed to the Behaviourist approach.
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(-) Over-reliance on lab studies
Lab studies are not real life, the participants may have just been acting that way because they were in a lab.
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(-) Underestimates biological factors
One finding was that in Bandura's bobo doll case study, boys were often more aggressive than girls. This can be explained by the boys' high testosterone, which has been linked to aggression in the past.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Bandura argued that conditioning could not account for all human learning, as there are important cognitive factors that play a role (SLT's meditational processes)

Back

How does it differ from the behaviourist approach?

Card 3

Front

When an individual observes a behaviour, then imitates it. It is merely a simulation and isn't copied exactly.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

People are more likely to imitate the behaviour of whom they identify with e.g. role models. Because they possess similar characteristics, are attractive or has high status.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Imitating a role model's behaviour.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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