SOC 1305 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Organism, Classical Conditioning, Social Status
Document Summary
Social learning theory argues that many social behaviors occur even in the absence of rewards / punishments. Tenets: we simply observe others, we model their behavior, we observe the rewards or sanctions that others receive (note: this is different from us receiving them) This theory, made famous by albert bandura, states that social behavior (any type of behavior that we display socially) is learned primarily by observing and imitating the actions of others. Social learning contributes to the following attitudes and behaviors: crime and deviance, parenting beliefs and practices, achievement (education, sports, etc. , diet and exercise, career interests, political attitudes, religious beliefs and behaviors, among many others. Humans also tend to conform to social pressure in groups, particularly when they are in the minority. Conflict theory emphasizes how social inequalities, domination, power, resources, and conflict between individuals and groups lead to differences in behavior.
