http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHi2dxSf9hw
Social Learning Theory
Albert Bandura
Research Study
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Bandura et al. (1961)
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Video Clip
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bandura+bobo+doll&search_type=
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson you should be able
to:
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describe Social Learning Theory

apply Social Learning Theory to gender
Social Learning Theory
Key Terms
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Graphic Organiser
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Observational Learning
Vicarious (Indirect)
Reinforcement
Vicarious (Indirect)
Punishment
Model
Imitation
Mental Representation
(Cognition)
Social Learning Stages
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Attention
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Retention
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Reproduction
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Motivation
Social Cognitive Theory
Bandura added more factors to the SLT to explain the
cognitive factors of role development...
Modelling
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What makes someone likely to copy
what you are doing?
Appropriateness!
Males would imitate other males
or someone with similar
characteristics to them
Eg) Boys may learn a good deal
about homemaking, but rarely
adopt such activities (Bandura
and Bussey, 1999)
How might children’s
experiences change as they
grow up?
As children grow up,
their mobility
improves. Their
variety of social
reactions increase!
This is known as:
ENACTIVE
REPRESENTATION
Direct Tuition
Appropriate gender
instructions begin as
children acquire
language.
“Instructors” can be
parents or children.
Anyone with an authority
oh children
Can you remember any of
your gendered
instructions?
Discussion
Can you remember
anything/anyone that had an
influence on your gender identity
growing up?
Can you remember the
context/what was said?
If you were rearing a child of your
own, do you think you would
influence their gender
development?
The Influence of Parents
Parents are a primary
socializing agent, especially
when children are young
Starting at birth, parents treat
girls and boys differently, and
believe them to possess
different characteristics
The Influence of Peers
Peers are important because
they offer a model of genderlinked behaviours
(Bandura, 1999)
In their interactions,
peers reward each other
for gender appropriate
activities and vice versa.
Boys are more likely to
criticise activities
considered feminine
(Fagot, 1985)
The Influence of Schools
Teachers are another source
of influence.
They can reinforce gender
appropriate behaviour and act
as role models themselves
Media Influences
Messages about gendered behavior and
interactions are also conveyed through
television, movies, magazines, and
books
On average, each day a 4-year-old
watches 2 hours of television and a 12year-old watches 4 hours (Comstock
and Scharrer, 2001)
Some European nations ban ads before,
during, and after children’s television
programming
Men are more likely to be seen controlling events, while
women are at the mercy of them (Hodges et al, 1981)
Review
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True - False
1
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Social learning theory explains
how behaviour is learnt by
observing others.
2
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A child is more likely to imitate
the behaviour of a model who is
younger than them.
3
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Vicarious reinforcement is when
the child is directly rewarded for
copying the models behaviour.
4
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Social learning theory fails to take
into account the role of cognitive
factors.
5
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Bandura further adapted the
social role theory to explain
gender development
6
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Social learning theory can explain
how behaviour can be learnt
without necessarily being
performed.
7
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Enactive representation is when
the variety of social reactions of
children is increased through
greater mobility
8
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Girls are more likely to imitate
male models as males are generally
more aggressive.
9
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Direct Tuition begins as children
learn to write
10
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Children are more likely to show
aggression if they observe
someone being punished for
aggressive behaviour.