Karen J. Bachar MA
University of Arizona College of Public Health

Social Learning Theory -Goals
.Present a historical review of SLT & identify key terms 
.Examine how SLT has been applied to the study of aggression & sexual aggression
.Review a study that applies SLT to rape prevention education
.Conclusions & Recommendations
.Social Learning Theory (SLT) has a rich historical background dating back to the late 1800's

I. Social Learning Theory -Review
.Research leading to development of SLT: -William James (1890)
.Laid foundation for the study of person & environment interactions -"the social self" -Alfred Adler (early 1900's)
.Behavior is purposeful and motivated by pursuit of goals
.Individual perception and attitude towards social environment significant influences on behavior
.A person's thoughts, feelings, & behaviors are transactions with one's physical and social environments.

I. Social Learning Theory -Review
.E.C. Tolman (1930's)
  -Promoted the idea that cognitions are driving force behind behavior
.Miller & Dollard (1941)
    -Social Learning Theory officially launched with the publication of Social Learning and Imitation
       -Humans model observed behaviors which are either reinforced or extinguished through environmental reinforcement
       -Human behavior motivated by internal drives
.(1941+) Many SLT theories expanded Miller & Dollard's work
.All versions of SLT share 3 basic themes
    -People learn by experience & observation
        -Vicarious learning
    -People model behavior based on identification
        -Similarity and emotional attachment
    -Consequences influence whether a person will repeat a behavior
        -Reward vs.punishment contingencies
.Major SLT Theorists
    -Julian Rotter
        -Internal vs. external control, internal/external change influence,
        -Health outcomes / Personal Control
    -Robert Sears
        -Socialization processes
        -How children internalize values attitudes and behaviors of a culture
    -Walter Mischel
        -Cognitive social learning
        -How new experiences affect the individual
    -Ronald Akers
        -Social behavior shaped by
            -Differential association (relative influence)
            -Differential reinforcement (punishment)
            -Cognitive definitions (self schema)
    -Albert Bandura
    -How cognitions influence behavior & development
    -First to study modeling (vicarious learning) as a form of social learning
    -Introduced the idea that there can be a significant time lapse between cause and effect
    -SLT Social Cognitive Theory -Bandura (1986)

II. Social Learning & Aggression
.SLT has been applied to the study of deviant, criminal, & aggressive behaviors
.Aggression (and sexual aggression) is learned through the frequency, relative importance, duration, & intensity of:
    -Social interactions (learning by association)
    -Observations (behaviors & consequences)
    -Vicarious learning (ex. media influence)
    -Modeling (imitation)
    -Reinforcement (negative & positive)
.SLT does not view sexual aggression as inevitable, instead aggression is:
    -Learned
    -Shaped by consequences
    -Continues if reinforced
.According to SLT male violence against women endures because:
.It is modeled at the individual & societal levels
.It often achieves its purpose by cutting off arguments
.It is deemed to have positive results (for perpetrator):
    Relieves tension
    Leaves the perpetrator feeling better
.It is rarely associated with serious punishment to the perpetrator
.One way social learning occurs is through social information processing
.Decode -Decide/Respond -Judge effect
.Violent men may be deficient in in skill needed to decode messages from women

III. Social Learning Theory & Rape Prevention Education
.Lanier et al., (1998). Evaluation of an intervention to change attitudes toward date rape.
    -Used modeling with theatrical production to enhance rape prevention awareness with high and low rape tolerant students
    -436 college students responded to a College Date Rape Attitude Survey before & after watching "Scruples"

IV.Social Learning Theory & Rape Prevention Education
Script scenes:
-Addressed role of alcohol in date rape situations
-Importance of communication in relationships
-Addressed rape myths
-Portrayed men's "limitation-testing" behaviors
-Presented interaction between survivor of sexual assault & social need for supporting her legal decisions
-Depicted men as positive role models for each other

Results:
-Students with highest rape-tolerant attitude lowered their tolerance after viewing the play but were still higher on average than other students
-Limitation
-Post test was administered immediately after the play

V.Conclusions
.SLT has implications for interventions at individual and societal levels
.SLT may be particularly effective with interventions aimed at youth.
.SLT /Peer Influence models
.Need to develop creative approaches beyond classroom interventions
.Rape continues because there are no real consequences to perpetrators/must work to change societal response to rape
.Important to develop realistic expectations about any intervention and to address both short and long term outcomes.

Updated 8/6/07