1. SOCIAL
LEARNING
THEORY
Bandura Study Overview

2. LEARNING OUTCOME
Explain Social Learning Theory, making
reference to two relevant studies.
Explain: Give a detailed account including
reasons or causes.

3. NORM
A set of rules based on socially or culturally
shared beliefs of how an individual ought to
behave.

4. SHOPPING NORMS
What are a few of the norms when standing in
the Check-Out line? What do you do and what
don’t you do? How did you learn these rules?

5. SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY
 Proposed by Albert Bandura
SLT states that humans learn behavior through
observational learning – watching models and
imitating their behavior.
 Direct Impact – The modeler is trying to change behavior of the
observer
 Indirect Impact – The modeler is not trying to change the behavior of
the observer

6. IN ORDER FOR SLT TO OCCUR
THERE MUST BE …
 Attention: Pay attention to the Model
 Retention: Remember the Model’s action
 Motor Reproduction: Copy the Model’s action
 Motivation: Want to demonstrate what they have
learned

7. MOTIVATING FACTORS IN SLT
 Give an example of this type of learning in the real world
 Consistency: If the model behaves in a way that is consistent across situation- always
being brave- then the observer will be more likely to imitate their behavior than if the model
behaves differently depending on the situation.
 Identification with the Model: There is a tendency to imitate models who are like
ourselves. (Age, Gender, Etc.)
 Rewards/Punishments: Bandura argues that people can learn from observing the
consequences of others; they don't need to experience those consequences themselves. This
called vicarious reinforcement and happens when we watch what happens to others around
us.
 Liking the Model: Warm and friendly models (or ones that we like nonetheless) are more
likely to be imitated than cold, uncaring models. A study (Yarrow et al. (1970)) found that
children learn altruistic (helpful) behaviors better from people who they had developed warm
relationships than from strangers.

8. BANDURA ET AL. (1961)
THE BOBO DOLL EXPERIMENT
 Bandura on the Bobo Doll Study

9. BANDURA ET AL. (1961)
 Aim: To discover if children would imitate aggressive
behavior modeled by adults; Also, to know if children
were more likely to imitate same-sex models.
 Method:
 Participants: 72 Children (3-6 Years Old)
 Treatment Group 1: Observed an adult model playing violently with a
Bobo Doll.
 Treatment Group 2: Observed a model assembling toys for 10
minutes. (Non-Violent)
 Control: Did not Observe a Model

10. BANDURA ET AL. (1961)
Findings: Children were significantly more
aggressive (and in novel ways) when they had
observed a violent model.
 Children were more likely to imitate same-sex models.
Conclusion: Children can learn aggressive
behavior based on social observations 
Social Learning Theory
Criticisms: Ecological Validity? Others?

11. MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO!
 Vervet Monkeys using Social Learning

12. VAN DE WAAL ET AL. (2014)
Aim: To determine the circumstances and
models that shape social learning.
Method:
 Field Observation of wild Vervet Monkeys
 Placed sandy grapes in the field and observed the
strategies that the monkeys would use to eat the
grapes.

13. VAN DE WAAL ET AL. (2014)
Findings:
 Four different strategies of eating the grapes were adopted by
different groups of monkeys.
 All Infant monkeys first adopted the strategy of their mother
even if other strategies were present.
 Mothers who explored the grapes in different ways were more
likely to have infants who were more likely to explore the
grapes differently.
Conclusion: Vervet Monkeys learn their habits
from observing the actions of their mothers.
Critical Thinking

14. CHARLTON ET AL. (2002)
Aim: To investigate whether the introduction of
T.V. to a community (St. Helena) increases
aggressive behavior among children.
Procedure: Natural Experiment Set up
cameras on a playground and observed
behavior of children (Ages 3-8) from two local
schools. Compared results before and after.

15. CHARLTON ET AL. (2002)
Findings:
 No noticeable increase in aggressive behavior
developed after T.V. was introduced.
 Teachers & Adults explained that there were strict rules
on children on the island
Discussion/Conclusions: Children may learn
behaviors but not display them for various
reasons. Does not challenge SLT, rather, Bandura
et al. (1961).
Criticisms: Ecological Validity? Others?

16. VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES
 Do Violent Video Games Make Us Violent? PBS Special

17. SLT AND VIOLENT MEDIA
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
 Do you think violent media leads to aggressive
behavior in the real world?
 How does Social Learning Theory relate to this issue?
 What aspects of SLT can be used to explain Adam
Lanza’s behavior?
 Should there be restrictions placed on violent
media/videogames?