This source is channeling the Social Learning Theory. This is important because it shows how people, especially young children, learn behaviors that may include attitudes or norms/values, and it argues that they do this by observing others in their environment. Another way they can learn this is through social settings and norms set up through already existing norms within their environment. Individuals don’t just learn through direct experience but also through experiencing society with others and observing. “Mass media serve as significant socializing agents by providing a vast array of symbolic models for the observer to emulate” (Berge et al, 2012); toys, media, and social media environments are part of the behavioral models that show what is accepted or normal to young children. Through this, people can internalize what they think they need to be based on who they appear as, and they continue to grow into who they think they need to become.
This is super important to my project as gendered toys like Barbies, Brats, and Pollypockets perpetuated certain stereotypes for young girls that then develop into learned norms about what girls should become. Social learning theory creates this, and it then gets reinforced when seen imitated by others in their environment, whether it be in person or online. Those young girls contribute to the attributes seen on these dolls and also receive positive affirmations that this is who a girl is supposed to be; these are the attitudes and behaviors associated with girlhood. Furthermore, they begin their digital journey and see these behaviors reinforced to a higher extent, but are now given the platforms and tools to change their appearance based on these social norms. In other words, they are copying a fake reality seen online and further contributing to the hyperrealistic version reinforced in the simulations that are based on the “reality”. That reality being social norms and attitudes learned through toys at a young age through the social learning theory; this theory also shows how this paper will be theoretically informed and analyzed formally to standards.
I am excited to have my entire plan figured out for my project by the end of this semester, including my committee. I am also excited to have a good amount of my paper written and the preproduction planned. I didn’t get any extra feedback yet because I was sick and out of class.
M.A., Sherry & Berge, Zane. (2012). Social Learning Theory. 10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_1257. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/302350884_Social_Learning_Theory/citation/download