Social Learning Theory

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHi2dxSf9hw Social Learning Theory Albert Bandura

2. Learning Outcomes By the end of this lesson you should be able to: • describe Social Learning Theory • apply Social Learning Theory to crime • describe Research Studies to support the social learning theory of aggression

3. It has been estimated that a child entering secondary school will have seen 8,000 murders and 100,000 other violent acts on TV. Eron (1995)

4. Key Terms Observational Learning Vicarious (Indirect) Reinforcement Vicarious (Indirect) Punishment Model Imitation Mental Representation (Cognition) Graphic Organiser Social Learning Theory

5. Research Study • Bandura et al. (1961) • Video Clip http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bandura+bobo+doll&search_type=

6. Social Learning Stages • Attention • Retention • Reproduction • Motivation

7. Model Characteristics • Age • Gender • Status

8. Exam Question • Describethe social learning theory of criminal behaviour. [8 marks]

9. Exam Board Mark Scheme • The role of direct reinforcement in aggression • The role of indirect reinforcement in aggression • The role of observational learning • Modelling (e.g. stages, characteristics of the role model) • Key studies into the social learning theory of aggression (e.g. Bandura et al’s ‘Bobo doll’ study)

10. Review • True - False

11. 1 • Social learning theory explains how behaviour is learnt by observing others.

12. 2 • A child is more likely to imitate the behaviour of a model who is younger than them.

13. 3 • Vicarious reinforcement is when the child is directly rewarded for copying the models behaviour.

14. 4 • Social learning theory fails to take into account the role of cognitive factors.

15. 5 • Balama et al. (1961) conducted a research study to investigate the effects of social learning on aggression in children.

16. 6 • Social learning theory can explain how behaviour can be learnt without necessarily being performed.

17. 7 • The children were split into 3 groups in the Bobo Doll experiment.

18. 8 • Girls are more likely to imitate male models as males are generally more aggressive.

19. 9 • Social Learning Theory only involves both direct and indirect reinforcement.

20. 10 • Children are more likely to show aggression if they observe someone being punished for aggressive behaviour.