3.3.6—Social learning
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2027
- Objective
- 3.3.6
- Level
- SL
Social learning makes group behaviour observable and repeatable
Social learning theory explains behaviour through observation, imitation and the consequences attached to models. Vicarious reinforcement changes expectations when someone else is rewarded or punished.
Attention, retention, reproduction and motivation mediate learning. A model's status, similarity, visibility and cultural meaning affect what is copied; social context can make a behaviour possible or costly.
A child may imitate a respected peer's healthy food choice after seeing approval, but only if the food is available and the peer's behaviour is remembered. Learning can precede performance.
Seeing a behaviour is not sufficient evidence that it caused imitation. Specify the model, mediational process, consequence and alternative explanation.