2.3.10—Social learning theory
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2027
- Objective
- 2.3.10
- Level
- SL
Social learning links observed behaviour to its social consequences
Social learning theory proposes that people can learn behaviour by observing models in a social setting. Imitation is more likely when the model is salient and the behaviour appears rewarded, useful or socially valued.
The observer is not a passive copy machine: attention, retention, reproduction and motivation mediate whether learning becomes performance. Vicarious reinforcement can change expectations even when the observer has not yet been rewarded.
A child notices an older sibling praised for helping, remembers the sequence and later reproduces it when able. The observation can support learning before the behaviour appears; culture and the local model shape what is noticed and valued.
Observed behaviour is not guaranteed to be imitated, and learning is not identical to immediate performance. State which ARRM process failed or succeeded before claiming that a model caused the action.