The main features of social learning theory, including observation, imitation, modelling and vicarious reinforcement, attention, retention, motivation and reproduction.
Past Paper Questions
2 Markers
Brigita is five years old. She has observed her mother applying make-up, and her father telling her mother how nice she looks. Brigita finds her mother’s make-up and puts it onto her own face. State two reasons why Brigita imitates her mother. (2) January 2018
Ore observed his father painting a picture of a local scene. When the painting was finished Ore’s mother praised his father and said how good the painting was. Ore decides to try and paint the same local scene. Explain, using social learning theory, why Ore’s father is a role model for Ore. (2) June 2018
Describe, using social learning theory, what may have motivated Ore to try and paint the same local scene as his father. (2) June 2018
Explain one weakness of social learning theory as an explanation for Haneen’s behaviour. (2) June 2021
Jasmine has learned how to clean her shoes after she paid attention to her sister cleaning shoes. (a) Describe ‘attention’ as it is used in social learning theory, using Jasmine as an example. (2) January 2022
Explain one weakness of social learning theory. (2) January 2022
4 Markers
Explain one strength and one weakness of social learning theory. (4) January 2018
Describe what is meant by the term ‘motivation’ as used in social learning theory. (4) January 2020
Haneen is 17 years old. She has seen her father change the oil in her mother’s car several times. Her mother always thanks Haneen’s father and bakes him his favourite cake after the oil has been changed. Haneen has changed her car oil for the first time. She feels a sense of pride in her achievement and has decided to do the oil change in the future when her car needs it. (a) Describe, using social learning theory, why Haneen changes her car oil. (4) June 2021
Compare social learning theory and Freud’s psychosexual stages of development. (4) June 2021
8 Markers
Tammy lives in Spain and has just been arrested for stealing a car. Once she had been arrested, the police realised that her sister was also on police files for stealing cars. When the police interviewed Tammy she admitted that this was not the first time she had stolen a car, and that she gets excited when driving stolen cars. Discuss social learning theory as an explanation of Tammy’s behaviour. You must refer to the context in your answer. (8) October 2018
Assess social learning theory as a complete explanation of human behaviour. (8) October 2019
