Outline and evaluate the Social learning theory. (16 marks)
Albert Bandura agreed with behaviourist that much of our behaviour is learned from
experience. However, his social learning theory suggested we also learned indirectly
through observation and vicarious reinforcement of other people’s action (models). Models
may not necessarily be physically present they could be someone from the media like a
famous music artist or professional footballer. These models provide behaviour that is
observed and reproduced through a process called imitation. Imitation of a model is more
likely to happen if the observer is to identify with the model. Therefore, identification with
the model is important for imitation to take place as the observer associates themselves
with a role model and believes they would experience similar consequences if they were to
imitate the behaviour themselves.
The main supporting evidence for the social learning theory is Banduras Bobo doll
experiment. This experiment involved children aged 3-5 years old male and female. The
children would observe aggressive and non-aggressive behaviour from adult role models
towards a life-sized Bobo doll. Children that were in the ‘aggressive condition’ were more
physically and verbally aggressive to the Bobo doll. Whereas children in the ‘non-aggressive
condition’ were not aggressive towards the Bobo doll. This experiment supports the SLT as it
demonstrates how children may carry out aggressive acts, due to the modelled behaviour of
others (role models). The four mediational processes in learning that were identified by
Bandura were Attention (the extent to which we notice certain behaviours), Retention (how
well the behaviour is remembered), Motor reproduction (the ability of the observer to
perform the behaviour) and Motivation (the will to perform the behaviour, which is often
determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished).
A strength for the social learning theory is that unlike behaviourism it considers cognitive
processes. For example, behaviourist describe human behaviour as very ‘robotic like’
however we are much more complex individuals. The SLT includes cognitive factors such as
thinking and emotions that influence our learning. It uses mediational processes to show
how this is done. Therefore, the social learning theory offers a more complex, better
explanation for human behaviour.
However, a limitation of the social learning theory is that research evidence is based on lab
experiments and this affects its validity. For example, many of Banduras ideas were
developed through observation of young children’s behaviour in a lab setting. Despite the
high level of control, it lacks ecological validity and suffers from demand characteristics. For
example, in Banduras Bobo doll experiment due to the main propose of the doll was to
strike the children behaved in a way they thought was expected. Therefore, the experiment
may tell us little about how children learn behaviour in real-life, as behaviour in the study
can’t be generalised to real life situations.
Another limitation of the social learning theory is that it underestimates the influence of
biological factors. For example, one consistent finding in the Bobo doll experiment was that
boys were often more aggressive than girls. This however may be because of hormonal
factors such as different levels of testosterone. As male tend to have higher levels of
Albert Bandura agreed with behaviourist that much of our behaviour is learned from
experience. However, his social learning theory suggested we also learned indirectly
through observation and vicarious reinforcement of other people’s action (models). Models
may not necessarily be physically present they could be someone from the media like a
famous music artist or professional footballer. These models provide behaviour that is
observed and reproduced through a process called imitation. Imitation of a model is more
likely to happen if the observer is to identify with the model. Therefore, identification with
the model is important for imitation to take place as the observer associates themselves
with a role model and believes they would experience similar consequences if they were to
imitate the behaviour themselves.
The main supporting evidence for the social learning theory is Banduras Bobo doll
experiment. This experiment involved children aged 3-5 years old male and female. The
children would observe aggressive and non-aggressive behaviour from adult role models
towards a life-sized Bobo doll. Children that were in the ‘aggressive condition’ were more
physically and verbally aggressive to the Bobo doll. Whereas children in the ‘non-aggressive
condition’ were not aggressive towards the Bobo doll. This experiment supports the SLT as it
demonstrates how children may carry out aggressive acts, due to the modelled behaviour of
others (role models). The four mediational processes in learning that were identified by
Bandura were Attention (the extent to which we notice certain behaviours), Retention (how
well the behaviour is remembered), Motor reproduction (the ability of the observer to
perform the behaviour) and Motivation (the will to perform the behaviour, which is often
determined by whether the behaviour was rewarded or punished).
A strength for the social learning theory is that unlike behaviourism it considers cognitive
processes. For example, behaviourist describe human behaviour as very ‘robotic like’
however we are much more complex individuals. The SLT includes cognitive factors such as
thinking and emotions that influence our learning. It uses mediational processes to show
how this is done. Therefore, the social learning theory offers a more complex, better
explanation for human behaviour.
However, a limitation of the social learning theory is that research evidence is based on lab
experiments and this affects its validity. For example, many of Banduras ideas were
developed through observation of young children’s behaviour in a lab setting. Despite the
high level of control, it lacks ecological validity and suffers from demand characteristics. For
example, in Banduras Bobo doll experiment due to the main propose of the doll was to
strike the children behaved in a way they thought was expected. Therefore, the experiment
may tell us little about how children learn behaviour in real-life, as behaviour in the study
can’t be generalised to real life situations.
Another limitation of the social learning theory is that it underestimates the influence of
biological factors. For example, one consistent finding in the Bobo doll experiment was that
boys were often more aggressive than girls. This however may be because of hormonal
factors such as different levels of testosterone. As male tend to have higher levels of
