Studies - Social Learning Theory

Bandura et al (1961)- Bobo Doll

Sample: 72 child participants (36 boys & girls) between 3-5 years old

Procedure 

- Condition one : aggressive group - 24 participants
- Condition two : non-aggressive group - 24 participants
- Condition three : control group - 24 participants

- Children rated on aggression
- Enter playroom with role model and experimenter. Played away from role model.
- Adult had bobo doll, mallet and construction set.
- Aggressive model hit doll and non-aggressive model ignored doll.
- Role model and experimenter leave.
- Children go to a room with toys they can't use.
- Then go to a different room with aggressive and non-aggressive toys.
- Observer watches behind one way mirror.

Findings

- Aggressive model = aggressive children
- 1/3 of children following aggressive model made verbal remarks. None of non-aggressive children did this.
- Boys = more physical, girls = more verbal.

Conclusion

Aggression can be learned through observation. 

______________________________________

Bandura and Walters (1963)

Children who saw the model being rewarded for aggressive behaviour showed high level of aggression. Reverse if seeing punishment. Learning through vicarious reinforcement.

______________________________________

Bandura (1963)

Viewing aggression by cartoon characters produces as much aggression as viewing live aggression performed by adults. Entertainment industry has an influential role on the social development of children. 

______________________________________

Patterson (1989)

Demonstrated that role models are important in the development of antisocial behaviour and that parents are the most important ones. Through surveys/questionnaires, they found that aggressive children are raised in homes of high aggression, little affection and little positive feedback. 

______________________________________

Mead (1935)

Found the Arapesh is an example of non-aggressive culture in which aggression is not admired or modelled by adults. The Mundugmor show the opposite pattern. Shows that SLT can be applied universally. 

______________________________________

Flanagan (2000)

Suggests that testosterone had been cited as a primary cause of aggression and other genetic/neuroanatomical structures are involved. SLT is reductionistic.

______________________________________

Runciman (1966)

Challenged Bandura's explanation; suggested that aggressive behaviour might be due to relative deprivation - the perceived difference between what you have and what you think you should have. 

______________________________________

Dollard et al (1939)

Aggressive behaviour is not due to imitation alone. Aggression is the result of frustration built up (psychoanalysis) and presence of environmental cues (behaviourism) that signal aggression.