Key idea: Social learning theory says we learn by watching others and copying them, especially when they are rewarded.
Learning by watching
1
Attention
We notice a model, especially one who is similar, liked or powerful.
2
Retention
We remember what the model did.
3
Reproduction
We are able to copy the behaviour.
4
Motivation
We copy it if we expect a reward, for example after seeing the model rewarded.
Attend · Retain · Reproduce · Motivate
Bandura, Grusec and Menlove (1967) showed young children who were afraid of dogs a peer playing happily with a dog. They became more willing to approach a dog, and still were a month later.
Go further: higher-level insight: Watching can change behaviour without any reward to the learner. That is what conditioning alone cannot explain.
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Key idea: Social learning theory explains learning without direct reward, and modelling is used to change behaviour; real-world effects are harder to show.
Strengths
- Learning without direct reward
- Used to change behaviour
- Explains media influence
Limitations
- Hard to separate from other causes
- Why some copy and others do not
- Short lab sessions
Social learning works alongside conditioning: watching shows what to do, consequences decide whether it is kept.
Watch out: Name the four processes. Say which ones the study shows.