Aggression: Social psychological explanations Flashcards
What is Social Learning Theory based on?
Based on the behaviourist approach is the idea that it is environmental influences that affect aggression rather than genetics.
How does Social Learning Theory suggest aggression in humans?
SLT suggests we learn aggression through the observation of other aggressive models and observing the consequences of the behaviour and whether it is reinforced or punished.
How do people learn aggression?
Learning of aggression may occur through direct first hand experience or through vicarious learning and the observation of other aggressive models with whom they identify.
What is vicarious reinforcement?
What is vicarious punishment?
Children will learn about the consequences of aggression by observing these aggression models and whether they are reinforced or punished.
If aggressive behaviour by a model is punished, the observer is less likely to repeat it.
What is positive reinforcement?
If behaviour is reinforced positively with a favourable outcome, then they are more likely to imitate the behaviour.
What is negative reinforcement?
If the behaviour is punished for it then the children will be less likely to repeat the behaviour.
What are the 4 cognitive mediating factors that Bandura believed played a role in the reproduction of aggression?
Attention: Aggressive acts tend to stand out from normal behaviour and this may be why they are easily learnt.
Retention: Behaviour needs to be memorable so individuals can recall it later.
Reproduction: Individuals must be capable of reproducing aggressive behaviour.
Motivation: The individual must be motivated to engage in aggressive behaviour and want to enact it.
What is direct and indirect learning?
Bandura suggested that aggression can be learned directly, through operant conditioning- for example, a child may be rewarded for an aggressive act, so will learn that this is something to be repeated in the future.
However, he also suggested that learning can be indirect, through observation. e.g children (and adults) observe aggressive behaviour and model it such as domestic violence.
What is self efficacy?
Linked to the idea of motivation, this is the belief/confidence that performing an action will lead to a desired reward. This is strengthened each time the aggressive action leads to a positive outcome, as the child gets more confident that they can use aggression successfully.
Bobo Doll Study (1961) - Aims
Bandura wanted to investigate if aggressive behaviours were learned by observation and imitation.
Bobo Doll Study (1961) - Procedure
Involved 36 boys and girls ranging in age from 3 - 5 years from Stanford university nursery. Half were exposed to adult models being aggressive towards a bobo doll and the other half was exposed to an adult that was non-aggressive towards it. In the aggressive condition, children observed the model kick, punch and hit the bobo doll as well as using violent language “kick it”. In the non-aggressive condition, the model played with the toys and ignored the Bobo doll. Children were taken to a room and played with the toys for a short time. Children were taken to another room where the toys and the bobo doll were present. The children’s behaviour was observed through a one-way mirror and categorised.
Bobo Doll Study (1961) - Findings
- Children who were in the aggressive condition produced more aggressive behaviours. Children in the non-aggressive condition did not.
- Boys were more physically aggressive than girls.
- Girls and boys were equally verbally aggressive.
- Children were more likely to imitate behaviour if the model was the same sex as them. the effect was bigger for boys.
Bobo Doll Study (1961) - Conclusion
Children imitate aggressive behaviour after observing a role model. This supports the SLT explanation of aggression, that aggressive behaviour is learned from observation.
A03: Banduras bobo doll
+ Lab experiment
+ Good reliability, can be replicated
- Lacks ecological validity
- Demand characteristics: Bobo doll was meant to be hit, so children may have been doing what they thought was expected of them.
What is de-individuation?
Is when a person loses a sense of personal identity and personal responsibility. According to the de-individuation explanation, anonymity (e.g. by being part of a large crowd or wearing a disguise) makes a person more likely to behave aggressively.