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Social Learning Theory And The Bobo Doll Study

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Social Learning Theory is different from the Behaviourist Theory as it recognises the significance of cognition, as we are not submissive learners. Cognition includes mental processes used to help us make choices in what we do. We learn through: observation, modelling and indirect and direct reinforcement. Bandura believed that vicarious positive reinforcement is the most common reason for behavior modelling. A strength is that it is less deterministic than the behaviorist approach and can account for cultural differences in behaviour. A weakness is that it underestimates the influence of biological factors.
Modelling
Modelling is where you learn by observing others around you and then imitation their behaviour. Modelling can teach new behaviours and influence the frequency of previously learned behaviours. Some people who can influence people are: parents, siblings, peers, teachers and media.
Bandura (1961) The Bobo Doll Study
Albert Bandura studied aggression with the Bobo Doll Experiment which was carried out at Stanford University nursey. It included 72 children; 36 boys and 36 girls, aged between 3 to 5 and half years old. There were three conditions that Albert Bandura studied, number one was aggressive behaviours was rewarded, number two aggressive behaviours were punished and number three was a control conditioned. Originally they thought violence-reduced aggression by watching on e.g. television and media. However, when you see actions you tend to imitate them.
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