1. Introductory Psychology Concepts
Social Learning Theory
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Social Learning Theory
Social Learning Theory: Learning by Observing Models in the Environment
Social learning theory emphasizes that people learn by observing the behavior of models and acquiring the belief that they can produce behaviors to influence events in their lives (Bandura, 1969, 2004).
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3. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Social Learning Theory
Observational Learning: Learning Through Watching Others
Observational learning occurs by observing the behavior of a model.
Teachers, parents, and coaches often help us learn by intentionally modeling skills, but observational learning extends beyond such contexts.
We also learn fears, prejudices, likes and dislikes, and social behaviors by watching others (Olsson & Phelps, 2004).
Observational learning can be highly adaptive. By observing others, an organism can learn which events are important, which stimuli signal that events are about to occur, and which responses are likely to produce positive or negative consequences.

4. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Social Learning Theory
Vicarious Conditioning: Classic Conditioning by Watching the Reaction of Another
Stanford University psychologist Albert Bandera emphasizes that people learn not only through classical and operant conditioning but also by modeling—observing the behavior of others.
We are not equally likely to imitate all behavior of all models.
We are considerably more likely to imitate a model whose behavior we see reinforced (vicarious reinforcement) than when we see that behavior punished in the model (vicarious punishment).
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5. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Social Learning Theory
Bandura’s Four-Step Process of Modeling
Bandura views modeling as a four-step process that includes several cognitive factors:
Attention: First, we must pay attention to the model’s behavior.
Retention: Second, we must retain that information in memory so that it can be recalled when needed.
Reproduction: Third, we must be physically capable of reproducing the model’s behavior or something similar to it.
Motivation: Fourth, we must be motivated to display the behavior.

6. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Social Learning Theory
Bandura’s Classic Study: Bobo Doll
Classic modeling experiment by Bandura (1965) demonstrated the learning-versus-performance distinction in humans.
Children watched a film in which a model acted aggressively toward a “Bobo doll”.
One group saw the model rewarded with praise and candy, second group saw the model reprimanded for aggression, third group saw no consequences for the model.
After the film, each child was placed in a room with various toys, including a Bobo doll.
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7. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Social Learning Theory
Bandura’s Classic Study: Bobo Doll
Results of Bandura’s experiment:
Children who saw the model punished performed fewer aggressive actions toward the Bobo doll than did children in the other two groups.
To find out if this group had failed to learn how to respond aggressively, the experimenter later offered the children attractive prizes if they could do what the model had done.
All of the children quickly reproduced the model’s aggressive responses.
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8. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Social Learning Theory
Bandura’s Classic Study: Bobo Doll
In Bandura’s (1965) experiment, most children who watched an aggressive model attack a Bobo doll later imitated that behavior.
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