Social Learning Theory

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Social Learning Theory

• The bridge between Behaviourism and cognitivism.

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Main Assumptions

• Behaviour is learnt from a combination of others
  behaviour and expectation of reinforcement or
  punishment for copying what is seen.
• It combines principles from the behaviourist and
  cognitive approaches.
• Imitation of others is a key idea.

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Similarities of SLT to the other approaches.
Behaviourist Approach Cognitive Approach
Similarities to SLT Role of reinforcement Behaviour learnt Role of cognitive processes Focus on human behaviour rather than animals
Differences from SLT Importance of expectancy SLT looks FWD while Behaviourism looks BWD Distinction between learning and performance in SLT, while they are the same for behaviourism Animals not seen as the same as humans Observational learning not part of the cognitive approach Cognitive concentrates on processes like schemas SLT still tends to focus on external behaviour, while cognitive approach interested in internal processes
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Principles of SLT

• Bandura explains learning as more complex than
  the STIMULUS-RESPONSE approach of behaviourism.
  Playing down classical conditioning and reflexes,
  he emphasised two parts to learning
• Observational Learning
• Expectancy

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Observational Learning

• This is learning of behaviour from observing the
  behaviours of others and then imitating it, or,
  in the case of children, learning through
  identification. However, imitation is not
  automatic.

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Expectancy

• Behaviour will only be copied if there is an
  expectancy of reinforcement for doing so. A
  child, for example, watches an aggressive adult
  winning a fight. This sets in the childs mind
  the expectancy of winning by using aggression and
  the child copies the aggression for this reason.
  This means that cognitive processes are involved
  in the SLT.

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Cognitive processes involved

• Attention
• Retention
• Reproduction
• Motivation

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Not all models are copied, it depends on certain
issues

• Appropriateness
• Relevance
• Similarity
• Warmth and Friendliness
• The model having power
• Admiration
• Consistency

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Differences between SLT and Operant Conditioning

• In SLT behaviour is only informed by
  reinforcement. In behaviourism, behaviour
  determined by reinforcement.
• SLT works FWD, Behaviourism works BWD
• Behaviourism dismisses Cognitive Processes. SLT
  bring in Memory and Attention.

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The Bobo Doll Experiment

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vlCETgT_Xfzgfeature
  related

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Strengths

• Adds cognitive processes to behaviourist
  principles
• Based on lab experiments
• Less deterministic and reductionist
• Good at explaining specific imitated behaviour
• Explains development of culture and complex
  behaviours

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Limitations

• Doesnt explain how cognitive processes work
• Still concentrates mostly on external behaviour
• Lab experiments are artificial
• Criticisms of Bobo Doll studies
• Not good at explaining learning of abstract ideas