Social learning theory is nowadays known as "social cognitive theory" to acknowledge the importance of meditational processes in social learning.
Bandura believed that new patterns of behaviour could be acquired not only through direct experience, but also by observing ones own behaviour and the behaviour of others. Bandura believed that reinforcement could also serve as an informative function for the individual. During learning people not only perform responses, they also observe the different consequences of their own and others behaviours, on the basis of feedback they then develop hypotheses about the types of behaviour that will be successful in different settings. This is known as social learning theory.
Bandura believed that new patterns of behaviour could be acquired not only through direct experience, but also by observing ones own behaviour and the behaviour of others. Bandura believed that reinforcement could also serve as an informative function for the individual. During learning people not only perform responses, they also observe the different consequences of their own and others behaviours, on the basis of feedback they then develop hypotheses about the types of behaviour that will be successful in different settings. This is known as social learning theory.
Bandura et al (1961) is a key study for this approach, they had children who observed aggressive and non aggressive adult models and then tested for imitative learning in the absence of the model. Half of the children were exposed to the aggressive models and the other half were not. The aggressive adults hit the doll, the children were then shown attractive toys which they weren't allowed to play with which led to frustration. They were then taken into a room where amongst other toys there was a bobo doll. Children who observed the aggressive model reproduced a fair amount of what they were shown. The other children displayed virtually no aggression towards the bobo doll. 1/3 who had seen the aggressive model replicated that with the doll.
Modelling- in order for social learning to take place someone must act or model the attitude or behaviours to be learned. Individuals that perform this role are called models. There are different types, a live model could be a parent, a teacher or a member of their peer group. A symbolic model could be someone portrayed in the media. These models display behaviour that can be observed by the individual and then later they reproduce it which is known as imitation.
Imitation- much of what a child learns is through imitation of attitudes and behaviours that are modelled by parents and significant others. Research shows that learning in this way can be rapid, key determinants of whether a behaviour is imitated are:
Vicarious reinforcement- individuals learn about the likely consequences of an action and then adjust their subsequent behaviour accordingly. The concept suggests that people don't need to experience rewards or punishments to adjust their behaviour in order to learn. Instead they can observe the consequences experienced by a model and then make judgements about the likelihood of experiencing these themselves.
Meditational processes- emphasis placed on this internal process, learner must form mental representations of the behaviour displayed by the model and probable consequences, then make a decision about their own behaviour.
Imitation- much of what a child learns is through imitation of attitudes and behaviours that are modelled by parents and significant others. Research shows that learning in this way can be rapid, key determinants of whether a behaviour is imitated are:
- The characteristics of the model.
- The observers perceived ability to perform that behaviour.
- The observed consequences of the behaviour.
Vicarious reinforcement- individuals learn about the likely consequences of an action and then adjust their subsequent behaviour accordingly. The concept suggests that people don't need to experience rewards or punishments to adjust their behaviour in order to learn. Instead they can observe the consequences experienced by a model and then make judgements about the likelihood of experiencing these themselves.
Meditational processes- emphasis placed on this internal process, learner must form mental representations of the behaviour displayed by the model and probable consequences, then make a decision about their own behaviour.
Evaluation
Strengths- it has useful applications, it has been used to understand human behaviour including criminal behaviours. Research support for identification. According to social learning theory observing a model similar to the self should lead to more learning than if you were observing a model very different. Greater identification with the model leads to more learning, its easier to visualise the self in the same space as the model.
Limitations - Problem of causality, increased time spent with deviants leads to deviant behaviour, problem here about determining causality. A problem of complexity, advocates of this approach disregard other potential influences on behaviour i.e. gender role behaviour- social theorists would emphasise the importance of gender specific modelling. In real life children are exposed to many different models all different, making this very complex.
Strengths- it has useful applications, it has been used to understand human behaviour including criminal behaviours. Research support for identification. According to social learning theory observing a model similar to the self should lead to more learning than if you were observing a model very different. Greater identification with the model leads to more learning, its easier to visualise the self in the same space as the model.
Limitations - Problem of causality, increased time spent with deviants leads to deviant behaviour, problem here about determining causality. A problem of complexity, advocates of this approach disregard other potential influences on behaviour i.e. gender role behaviour- social theorists would emphasise the importance of gender specific modelling. In real life children are exposed to many different models all different, making this very complex.