Social Learning Theory Scavenger Hunt
Work in pairs to complete the questions below Textbook Pages 111-113
1.)What is the definition of a norm? How do norms regulate people’s behavior?
A set of rules based on socially and culturally shared beliefs of how an individual
ought to behave, and norms regulate behavior in the group – if people break
these norms they may be punished or marginalized or also seen as creative and
influencing change in society.
2.) What is the name of the psychologist who developed Social Learning Theory
(SLT) and how did he change social psychology?
Albert Bandura developed SLT and he pointed to the role of modeling in learning
based on his famous bobo doll experiment.
3.)What does SLT attempt to explain?
SLT explains how a society passes its social and cultural norms on within a group
4.)Fill in the gaps below…
Social Learning Theory (SLT) assumes that humans learn behavior through
…………………./…………….. – in other words, people …………….through watching
……………… and …………. their behavior. Sometimes a model is trying to have a
……………. effect on their …………………… - for example, when a …………….. instructs
children how to solve a ………………… - but often models serve as …………….. models,
in that they are not trying to ………………. behavior.
Observational Learning, learn, models, imitating, direct, behavior, teacher,
problem, indirect, influence
4.) Complete the following mind map, by adding in explanations of the following
factors
Retention:
Attention:
The observer must be
able to remember the
behavior that has been
observed
The person must
first pay attention
to the model
Social
Learning
(modeling/imi
tation)
Motivation:
Learners must
want to
demonstrate what
they have learnt
Motor
Reproduction:
The observer must
be able to replicate
the action
5.) Motivation to imitate a behavior is quite complex, there are several factors
which may influence whether or not the observer decides to imitate and learn.
Explain the following below, and come up with a real life example to illustrate the
points.
Consistency: If the model behaves in way that is consistent across situations, the
observer is more lively to imitate that model. – e.g. a coach is consistently on time
to training sessions, then their students will be more punctual
Identification with the model: There is a tendency to imitate models that are like
ourselves, for example, in terms of age and gender. Teenagers are more likely to
use and buy products which are advertised with people of the same age.
Rewards/Punishment (vicarious reinforcement): Bandura argues that people can
learn from observing what happens to others, so that they don’t have to
experience the consequences themselves. This is called vicarious reinforcement
and in Bandura’s theory and it happens when we watch people around uswhether in reality or in movies. This is called observational learning. E.g. We
understand the it is dangerous for a westerner to go backpacking alone in some
areas of Mindanao based on news stories.
Liking the model: Warm and friendly models are more likely to be imitated than
cold, uncaring models. A study by Yarrow et al. (1970) showed that children learn
altruistic behavior (helping others for no personal gain) better from people with
whom they have already developed a friendly relationship that from people they
do not know. E.g. Elementary school teachers should make sure that they are
approachable and the students feel comfortable to communicate with them.
Textbook Pages 112 -113
6.) Bandura et al. (1961) conducted a laboratory experiment entitled
‘transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models’ which offers
support for his SLT. Complete the key study sheet below for this experiment:
Area of Psychology: Sococultural Psychology (SLT)
Title of Study: ‘transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive
models’
Researchers: Bandura et al.
Year: 1961
Aims
Two aims:
1)To see if children would imitate aggression modeled by an adult
2)To know if children are more likely to imitate same sex models
Procedures:
Children ages 3 to 6 years (36 boys & 36 girls) were divided into two groups.
Groups matched with regard to aggression based on evaluation by their parents
and teachers.
1st group exposed to adult models bashing the inflatable “bobo doll”
2nd group observed non aggressive adult who assembled toys for 10 minutes
3rd group – control group and did not see a model.
In the 1st and 2nd group, some children watched same-sex models and some
watched opposite sex models.
After watching the models, - children placed in room with toys & taken out and
told the toys are for other children, then put in a room with a bobo doll.
Findings:
Bandura found that those who observed the aggressive model (group 1)
significantly more aggressive, both physically and verbally.
Bandura believed that social learning was demonstrated in the study, as the
children showed signs of observational learning. He also observed that girls
were more likely to imitate verbal aggression, and boys more likely to imitate
physical aggression.
When the boys saw a woman bashing a doll some said “ladies should not do
that” – they were more likely to imitate a same sex adult. (stereotype threat)
Conclusions:
Study clearly supports SLT, as they group 1 showed more aggressive behavior,
and also were more likely imitate same sex models (identification with the
model).
Evaluation: (MECG):
Low EV – in the lab/ only a brief encounter with the model/ children
intentionally frustrated by removal of toys.
Situation does little to predict what happens if a child is repeatedly exposed to
violent parents of violence on TV.
Actual violence shown – is this learned aggression in general or specific to the
situation?
Methodology: aggression modeled by adult not standardized/ matching of
groups in terms of aggressiveness may not have been accurate.
Demand characteristics – they may have acted aggressively because they
thought it would please the research
Ethics: may be frightening for the children to observe violence, and is ok to
teach children violent behavior – it could become generalized to other
situations.
7.) Outline the findings of research by Hausemann & Eron (1986) and Kimball
& Zabrack (1986) and explain what this research tells us about the
application of SLT to real life.
According to SLT – there is a real chance of violence on TV will lead to more
violent children. The results of studies which show the effects of violence on
TV on children are consistent. By watching aggression, children learn how to
be aggressive in new ways and they also draw conclusions about whether
being aggressive to others will bring them rewards or punishment.
Hausemann & Eron (1986) longitudinal study – monitored children’s behavior
over 15 years. Positive correlation between no. of hours of violence watched
on TV by elementary school children and level of aggression when teenagers.
Those who watched a lot of violence at 8 years or more were more likely to be
arrested and prosecuted for criminal acts as adults.
Kimball & Zabrack, 1986 found that children were significantly more aggressive
two years after television was introduced to their town.
These two studies show a link between watching violent television programs
and aggressive behavior. But is there another explanation?
8.) Read the section ‘be a critical thinker: the other side of the argument’ on
page 114.
a.) summarize the aims, procedures, findings and conclusions of Charlton et al.
(2002) natural experiment
Charlton et al. aimed to investigate the effect of the introduction of television
on aggression in children on the remote island of St. Helena. Cameras were set
up in the playground of two primary schools on the island, and the behavior of
children between ages 3 and 8 was observed before and after the introduction
of television. They then carried out a content analysis of the TV programs
showed them to be of the same level of violence as the UK.
100 of hours of videotape were analyzed, as well as interview data, and no
increase in antisocial behavior was observed among the children. Good
behavior was maintained even after 5 years of exposure to violent television.
b.) Find information about the people and culture of St. Helena. What are the
major differences between this community and communities in the UK?
v. isolated, only one boat connecting them to the outside world, no flights,
close knit, supportive, low crime, co-operative.
c.) Discuss possible reasons why the results of this study are so different from
the results of studies conducted by Bandura et al. (1961) and Kimaball and
Zabrack (1986)
- Bandura Meth Issues/ Kimball – not violence on TV but other aspects of
family life for children who do watch a lot of TV.
9.) Briefly outline using some examples, the positive impact of social learning
through television.
Sesame Street, positive impact – academic and social skills. Soap operas to
change society, HIV, teen pregnant, literacy and empowering women. E.g.
Tanzania Twende and Wakati (lets go with the times) = increases in safe sex,
women’s status, and family planning.
10.)
The Sabido Method
a.) Outline what the Sabido Method is
A method of designing and producing radio and television dramas that aims to
change people’s behavior. Sabido applied SLT to soap operas in order to
influence viewers’ attitudes towards literacy. His method has been widely used
all over the world to promote safe sex, family planning and gender equality.
The basic idea of SLT is that we can learn from role models, especially if they
are people who we can identify with.
b.) Run an internet search on the Sabido Method. A good place to start is
www.populationmedia.org/what/sabido-method
c.) Find examples of the application of the method and write a discussion of
its effectiveness. Notice how it has been applied cross culturally.
Summarize your discussion below:
Acompaname showed in dramatic terms over the course of the nine-month series
the personal benefits of planning one’s family, by focusing on the issue of family
harmony. The results of Acompaname, as reported by the Mexican government’s
national population council (CONAPO), were:
- Phone calls to the CONAPO requesting family planning information increased
from zero to an average of 500 a month. Many people calling mentioned that
they were encouraged to do so by the telenovela.
-More than 2,000 women registered as voluntary workers in the national program
of family planning. This was an idea suggested in the telenovela.
- Contraceptive sales increased 23% in one year, compared to a seven percent
increase the preceding year.
- More than 560,000 women enrolled in family planning clinics, an increase of
33% (compared to a 1% decrease the previous year).
d.) Describe the structure and the key people in a television drama based on
the Sabido method. Then, in a group, try to identify a problem that is
relevant in your own community (e.g. binge drinking or bullying) and write
a short script for scene a show aimed a bringing about social change. Also
write an explanation of why you made the choices you did in your script.
Change is the key to the Sabido methodology. Characters may begin the series
exhibiting the antithesis of the values being taught, but through interaction with
other characters, twists and turns in the plot, and sometimes even outside
intervention, come to see the value of the program’s underlying message.
11.) Evaluation of social learning theory: Make as many evaluative points that
relate to SLT as possible, use the bottom of p.115 and also carry out your own
research. Prize for group with most evaluative points!
1. Helps explains why behaviors may be passed down within a culture
or family
2. Explains why children acquire some behavior without trial and error
learning.
3. However, acquired behavior may not always be demonstrated
immediately – a gap exists, and this can be seen as a limitation to the
theory, as it is difficult to establish 100% that the behavior is the
result of observing the model.
4. SLT also does not explain why some people never learn behavior
even when all the conditions for SLT learning are present.
5. SLT has developed into social cognitive theory and self efficacy
theory. Both are base on SLT but the focus is on beliefs and how they
influence behavior. – This is an important elaboration of SLT.
6. SLT in isolation is reductionist - we must also pay attention to
genetic/ cognitive