Bandura: social learning and imitation

Overview

Social learning and imitation, the conditions that make imitation likely, the four stages, and the Bobo doll experiments with their critics.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What does Bandura's social learning theory propose about how individuals acquire behaviours?

   Model answer

   That individuals learn behaviours by observing and imitating role models in the media.

2. 2

   According to Bandura, why is imitation more likely when a media model is rewarded?

   Model answer

   Because observing positive consequences for behaviour makes the observer more likely to reproduce that behaviour, expecting similar rewards.

3. 3

   Why does similarity between observer and model increase the likelihood of imitation according to Bandura?

   Model answer

   Because observers are more likely to identify with and imitate models they perceive as similar to themselves.

4. 4

   How does a model's high status affect imitation in social learning theory?

   Model answer

   High-status models are more likely to be imitated because they are seen as successful and their behaviours appear desirable or effective.

5. 5

   What did Bandura's Bobo doll experiments demonstrate about children's behaviour?

   Model answer

   That children imitated aggressive behaviour they observed in adults, providing evidence for social learning from observed models.

6. 6

   What is the attention stage in Bandura's social learning process?

   Model answer

   The stage where the observer notices and pays attention to the model's behaviour.

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