9- Bandura et al: DEVELOPMENTAL Flashcards
Aim
Investigate whether children will imitate aggression
Gender differences - more likely to imitate same sex models
Design
Lab experiment
Matched participant design
Observational techniques
Matched in terms of aggressiveness
IV
Aggressive or non aggressive model, gender of model and gender of child
DV
Imitation of aggressive acts / behaviour observed in playroom
Sample
Children from a university nursery school in Stanford, California.
Opportunity sample.
36 boys and 36 girls. Aged between 37 and 69 months (3 -5 years).
Mean age was 52 months (4 1/2 years).
Aggressiveness (potential extraneous variable) was controlled by ensuring each group contained equally aggressive children.
Aggressiveness ratings were determined beforehand by an experimenter who knew the children well and one of the children’s teachers.
There were 2 adult models, a male and a female plus a female experimenter.
Each child only participated in one condition: aggressive model or non-aggressive model or control condition).
Materials / apparatus
Various toys including a Bobo doll.
Procedure
Children played in experimental room watching model play with toys and bobo doll
In 3 groups: (IV)
Aggressive model
Non aggressive model
Control - no model
Children taken to third room where observed playing with toys and bobo doll
One way mirror by male model
Second observed present for half ps to determine inter rate reliability
3 behavioural categories:
Imitative aggression
Partially imitative
Non imitative aggression
Results
Aggressive group: compete imitation
Non aggressive: few aggressive (70% zero scores)
Gender effects:
Same sex: for boys not girls
Gender model: male greater influence
Gender child: boys more physical, same verbal
Conclusion(s)
1) Shows that people will produce new behaviours that they have observed (i.e., aggression towards a Bobo doll or not showing aggression towards a Bobo doll) and generalise these behaviours to others situations.
2) Also shows that males are more likely to be modelled, possibly because of their higher status.