4PAHPDFF Psychology and the Individual Week 9
BSc Psychology Year 1 Social Learning
SOCIAL LEARNING
TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOCIAL LEARNING
AND HOW THEY DIFFER FROM ONE ANOTHER.
SOCIAL LEARNING
Social learning refers to learning about other agents or the inanimate world that is
influenced by observation of, or interaction with, another individual or its products
(Heyes, 1994)
• Social learning is a useful source of information to learn about the world instead of having to
learn by ourselves
o For instance, by observing others, one can learn what is dangerous without
experiencing it firsthand, allowing for a more efficient learning process
Social Learning in Animals
• Animals can acquire biologically important information from observing the actions of others
o Social learning has been found in animals such as insects, birds, fish, rodents, and
primates
• However, humans tend to learn differently, more so via imitation and teaching (distinct from
social learning)
Social Learning Strategies
Term Definition Example
The observer’s attention is focused on a Seeing someone frequently going
particular aspect of the environment (a near a biscuit tin à paying more
Stimulus
place or object) as a result of observing attention to the biscuit tin
Enhancement
another individual interact with that
aspect of the environment
The observer learns the positive or Seeing someone burn themselves
Observational negative properties of a stimulus by on an ironà learning that touching
Conditioning observing another individual’s response an iron has negative consequences
to that stimulus
The observer learns how objects work Watching someone push a door
Affordance (the ‘affordances’ of the objects) by handle down to open a door à
Learning observing another individual interact learning that the door handle opens
with those objects the door
The observer watches another Watching someone cut open a box
individual’s actions and copies the to get food à ripping open the box
Emulation
outcome of those actions (but not the to get food (different method, same
specific actions themselves) result)
The observer watches another Watching someone roll a toy car
Object
individual’s actions using an object and down a ramp à placing the car on
Movement Re-
copies the movement of the object, but the ramp to roll it down (same
enactment
not necessarily the actions themselves object movement, different action)
1
, 4PAHPDFF Psychology and the Individual Week 9
BSc Psychology Year 1 Social Learning
The observer watches another Watching a head chef chop onions
individual’s actions and produces the using a specific slicing technique à
Imitation
same configural body movements to mimicking the exact movements to
copy the exact actions chop in the same way
TO BE ABLE TO CONTRAST THE PREVIOUS TYPES OF SOCIAL
LEARNING WITH OTHER TYPES OF LEARNING.
ASOCIAL LEARNING
• Learning about other agents or the inanimate world that is not influenced by observation of,
or interaction, with another individual or its products
Asocial Learning Strategies
Term Definition Example
The process of creating or discovering a Using understanding of molecular
Innovation new method, idea, or solution from insight interactions à theorising a new drug
or conceptual thinking formula
Learning that occurs through personal Learning to balance on a skateboard
Individual
experience and exploration, without direct by practicing alone à adjusting
Learning
observation of others stance based on experience
Trial-and- Attempting different actions and learning Experimenting with different
Error from mistakes and successes until finding ingredient combinations à finally
Learning a successful solution achieving the desired flavour
DIRECTED LEARNING
• When the behaviour of the observed individual is adapted or intended to communicate
information to the observer
• We are not interacting with the observed individual, rather, they are directing or
communicating to us in a one-way system through language or symbolic communication
Directed Learning Strategies
Term Definition Example
Acquiring information by interpreting Seeing others suddenly look up and
Learning from
non-verbal cues or signals, without run à recognising this as a warning
Signalling
intentional instruction signal for danger and fleeing
Gaining knowledge through intentional Reading a textbook/watching a
Learning from
information exchange, such as lecture à learning about a
Communication
language, gestures, or symbols historical event
Learning that occurs when a A piano teacher demonstrates
Learning from knowledgeable individual actively proper finger placement, corrects
Teaching modifies their behaviour to guide and mistakes, and providing
facilitate another’s understanding explanations à learning the piano
2
BSc Psychology Year 1 Social Learning
SOCIAL LEARNING
TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOCIAL LEARNING
AND HOW THEY DIFFER FROM ONE ANOTHER.
SOCIAL LEARNING
Social learning refers to learning about other agents or the inanimate world that is
influenced by observation of, or interaction with, another individual or its products
(Heyes, 1994)
• Social learning is a useful source of information to learn about the world instead of having to
learn by ourselves
o For instance, by observing others, one can learn what is dangerous without
experiencing it firsthand, allowing for a more efficient learning process
Social Learning in Animals
• Animals can acquire biologically important information from observing the actions of others
o Social learning has been found in animals such as insects, birds, fish, rodents, and
primates
• However, humans tend to learn differently, more so via imitation and teaching (distinct from
social learning)
Social Learning Strategies
Term Definition Example
The observer’s attention is focused on a Seeing someone frequently going
particular aspect of the environment (a near a biscuit tin à paying more
Stimulus
place or object) as a result of observing attention to the biscuit tin
Enhancement
another individual interact with that
aspect of the environment
The observer learns the positive or Seeing someone burn themselves
Observational negative properties of a stimulus by on an ironà learning that touching
Conditioning observing another individual’s response an iron has negative consequences
to that stimulus
The observer learns how objects work Watching someone push a door
Affordance (the ‘affordances’ of the objects) by handle down to open a door à
Learning observing another individual interact learning that the door handle opens
with those objects the door
The observer watches another Watching someone cut open a box
individual’s actions and copies the to get food à ripping open the box
Emulation
outcome of those actions (but not the to get food (different method, same
specific actions themselves) result)
The observer watches another Watching someone roll a toy car
Object
individual’s actions using an object and down a ramp à placing the car on
Movement Re-
copies the movement of the object, but the ramp to roll it down (same
enactment
not necessarily the actions themselves object movement, different action)
1
, 4PAHPDFF Psychology and the Individual Week 9
BSc Psychology Year 1 Social Learning
The observer watches another Watching a head chef chop onions
individual’s actions and produces the using a specific slicing technique à
Imitation
same configural body movements to mimicking the exact movements to
copy the exact actions chop in the same way
TO BE ABLE TO CONTRAST THE PREVIOUS TYPES OF SOCIAL
LEARNING WITH OTHER TYPES OF LEARNING.
ASOCIAL LEARNING
• Learning about other agents or the inanimate world that is not influenced by observation of,
or interaction, with another individual or its products
Asocial Learning Strategies
Term Definition Example
The process of creating or discovering a Using understanding of molecular
Innovation new method, idea, or solution from insight interactions à theorising a new drug
or conceptual thinking formula
Learning that occurs through personal Learning to balance on a skateboard
Individual
experience and exploration, without direct by practicing alone à adjusting
Learning
observation of others stance based on experience
Trial-and- Attempting different actions and learning Experimenting with different
Error from mistakes and successes until finding ingredient combinations à finally
Learning a successful solution achieving the desired flavour
DIRECTED LEARNING
• When the behaviour of the observed individual is adapted or intended to communicate
information to the observer
• We are not interacting with the observed individual, rather, they are directing or
communicating to us in a one-way system through language or symbolic communication
Directed Learning Strategies
Term Definition Example
Acquiring information by interpreting Seeing others suddenly look up and
Learning from
non-verbal cues or signals, without run à recognising this as a warning
Signalling
intentional instruction signal for danger and fleeing
Gaining knowledge through intentional Reading a textbook/watching a
Learning from
information exchange, such as lecture à learning about a
Communication
language, gestures, or symbols historical event
Learning that occurs when a A piano teacher demonstrates
Learning from knowledgeable individual actively proper finger placement, corrects
Teaching modifies their behaviour to guide and mistakes, and providing
facilitate another’s understanding explanations à learning the piano
2
