Bandura

Question 1

What was the aim of Bandura et al. (1961)?

Answer 1

To investigate whether children would learn aggression by observing a model and reproduce this behavior in the absence of the model, and whether the sex of the role model influenced learning and reproducing aggression.

Question 2

What type of experiment was Bandura et al. (1961)?

Answer 2

A lab experiment using an independent measures design.

Question 3

What were the 4 hypotheses in Bandura’s study?

Answer 3

Observed aggressive behavior will be imitated, so children seeing aggressive models will be more aggresBoys are more likely to imitate aggression than girls.
sive than those seeing a non-aggressive model or no model.

Observed non-aggressive behavior will be imitated, so children seeing non-aggressive models will be less aggressive than those seeing no model.

Children are more likely to copy a same-sex model.

Boys are more likely to imitate aggression than girls.

Question 4

What was the sample size and composition in Bandura’s study?

Answer 4

72 children (36 boys, 36 girls) aged 3–6 years from Stanford University Nursery School.

Question 5

How were children’s aggression levels pre-tested?

Answer 5

They were rated on four 5-point scales by the experimenter and a teacher, measuring physical aggression, verbal aggression, aggression toward inanimate objects, and aggression inhibition.

Question 6

What was done to annoy the children deliberately?

Answer 6

Children were shown attractive toys but were told after 2 minutes that these toys were reserved for other children.

Question 7

What were the 3 independent variables in Bandura’s study?

Answer 7

Model type (aggressive, non-aggressive, or no model).

Model gender (same gender or different gender as the child).

Learner gender (boy or girl).

Question 8

What was the dependent variable in the study?

Answer 8

The child’s learning, measured through observed aggressive behavior during a controlled 20-minute observation period.

Question 9

What did the aggressive model do?

Answer 9

The model attacked the Bobo doll using physical actions (e.g., punching, kicking, hitting with a mallet) and verbal comments (e.g., “Kick him,” “Sock him in the nose”).

Question 10

What did the non-aggressive model do?

Answer 10

The model assembled Tinkertoys for 10 minutes without interacting aggressively.

Question 11

How was behavior observed and recorded?

Answer 11

Through time sampling in 5-second intervals, totalling 240 response units per child.

Question 12

What did the study find about aggressive behavior?

Answer 12

Children exposed to aggressive models imitated both physical and verbal aggression significantly more than those in the control or non-aggressive model groups.

Question 13

How did gender influence imitation?

Answer 13

Boys were more likely to imitate physical aggression than girls.

Girls imitated verbal aggression slightly more than boys.

Boys and girls were more likely to imitate same-sex models.

Question 14

How did children react to aggressive female models?

Answer 14

Comments tended to disapprove of female aggression (e.g., “That’s not the way for a lady to behave”).

Question 15

What were some strengths of Bandura et al.’s study?

Answer 15

High control of extraneous variables (lab setting).

Matched participants design ensured comparable aggression levels across groups.

Use of both quantitative and qualitative data.

High inter-rater reliability (r = 0.9).

Question 16

What were some weaknesses of Bandura et al.’s study?

Answer 16

Limited generalizability (small sample size from one nursery).

Possible harm to children from exposure to aggression.

No follow-up to assess long-term effects.

Some qualitative data was subjective.

Question 17

What did Bandura conclude about observational learning?

Answer 17

Observational learning and imitation can account for the acquisition of specific behaviors without reinforcement.

Question 18

Were all 4 hypotheses supported?

Answer 18

Yes, all 4 hypotheses were supported.

Question 19

What is imitative learning?

Answer 19

Learning new behaviors by observing and copying others’ actions.

Question 20

How does gender-role reinforcement relate to aggression?

Answer 20

Boys are encouraged for aggressive or “strength” behaviors, while girls are often discouraged from aggression, affecting their imitation readiness.

Question 21

What might Bandura’s findings suggest about nature vs. nurture?

Answer 21

Both play roles: Nature influences aggression readiness (e.g., boys showing more physical aggression), while nurture shapes behavior through role models and reinforcement of gender-appropriate actions.

Question 22

How does Bandura’s study contribute to the situational vs. individual debate?

Answer 22

A: Situational Factors

The study supports the idea that behavior can be influenced by the situation, as children exposed to aggressive models imitated their behavior regardless of their individual traits.
Observing a role model’s actions in a controlled environment led to learned aggression, showing the power of the environment in shaping behavior.
A: Individual Factors

Individual differences were also evident. For instance:
Gender differences: Boys imitated more physical aggression, while girls imitated verbal aggression more.
Same-sex model influence: Children were more likely to imitate behavior from a model of the same gender.