Chapter Eight: Learning

Social-Learning Theories

INTRODUCTION

Social Learning Theory takes into account that we learn by observing others in action.

WHAT'S AHEAD

• How might watching violence on TV make (some) people more aggressive?
• Why do parents who yell at their children to be quiet tend to produce children who are yellers?
• Why do two people often learn different lessons from exactly the same experience?

KEY CONCEPTS

Comparison: Orthodox Behaviorists vs. Social-Learning Theory
Observational Learning: The Copycat Syndrome
Cognitive Processes: Peering into the "Black Box"

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Orthodox Behaviorists vs. Social-Learning Theory [p.285]

INTRODUCTION

Social Learning theories have broadened the behaviorist theories by including the social context of learning and the human capacity for higher-level cognitive processes.

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

Orthodox Behaviorist Model

Environmental Factors (reinforcers, punishers)	----------------->	Behavior
	<-----------------

Social Learning Model

	Adds the human's capacity for higher order cognitive processes
	Emphasis of Social-Learning Theories: Observational learning and the role of models. Cognitive processes such as perceptions and interpretations of events.

GLOSSARY

social-learning theories

LINKS on Social Learning Theory


Observational Learning: The Copycat Syndrome [p.286]

INTRODUCTION

"Monkey See, Monkey Do."

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

When you observe someone behaving in ways that are reinforced (or punished), vicarious operant conditioning may be occurring

When you are placed in a similar situation, you will know what works and what doesn't



GLOSSARY

observational learning

LINKS About Observational Learning

• weblink: Another Nursery Example - This time it's aggressing on a "Bobo Doll"

Cognitive Processes: Peering into the "Black Box" [p287]

INTRODUCTION

We develop cognitive maps of our environment which means learning is knowledge about responses and consequences.

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

...Latent Learning

• In latent learning, learning is not immediately expressed.
  
  
• We create a mental representation (cognitive map) about the environment and responses and their consequences.

...Cognitive Map

• The "something" learned in Tolman's latent learning experiment was a mental representation of the environment.

...What a learner learns in observational and latent learning:

• Not a specific response, as in classical and operant conditioning, but knowledge about responses and their consequences.

...Role of perception in learning

• Different people have different interpretations of what they are observing.
  
  
• There are different perceptions of what people want to learn.
  
  
• Why observational learning does not produce the same results in everyone.

GLOSSARY

	latent learning
	cognitive map

LINKS

Thinking Critically About Media Violence Weblinks

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