Bandura 1961

Question 1

Aims

Answer 1

• to investigate whether children would imitate aggressive behaviour observed in adults and if vicarious reinforcement (seeing the model being rewarded or punished) would affect the likelihood of imitating this behaviour.

Question 2

Participants

Answer 2

72 children
(36 boys and 36 girls),
aged between 3-6 years old.

Question 3

Groups

Answer 3

• The children were divided into three groups:
• Aggressive model group (watched an adult model behaving aggressively toward a Bobo doll).
• Non-aggressive model group (watched an adult play calmly with the Bobo doll).
• Control group (no model).

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

• In the first stage, children were exposed to either an aggressive or non-aggressive model.
• In the second stage, the children were then placed in a room with a Bobo doll and observed through a one-way mirror

Question 5

IV

Answer 5

• Type of model (aggressive, non-aggressive, or no model).

Question 6

DV

Answer 6

• The level of aggressive behavior displayed by the children towards the Bobo doll.

Question 7

Results

Answer 7

• Children who observed the aggressive model more likely to imitate aggressive behavior, including physical aggression (e.g., hitting the Bobo doll with a mallet).
• Boys showed more aggression than girls, and the boys were more likely to imitate physical aggression, while girls imitated verbal aggression (e.g., swearing).
• Children who observed the non-aggressive model showed far less aggression towards the Bobo doll.
• Children who did not see any model (control group) displayed very little aggression.

Question 8

Conclusions

Answer 8

• Children learn behaviours through observation and imitation, demonstrating that aggression can be learned through social observation
• Vicarious reinforcement influences whether or not aggressive behaviour is imitated (e.g., children were more likely to imitate aggression when the model was rewarded for their behaviour).
• The study also highlighted gender differences in the imitation of aggression, with boys being more likely to imitate physical aggression and girls being more likely to imitate verbal aggression.

Question 9

Generalisability

Answer 9

P - Limited
E- sample consisted of young children (aged 3–6) from one location, which means it may not represent the behavior of older children or adults.
E- Additionally, the children were from a specific cultural and social background, which may limit the ability to generalize findings to all children worldwide.

Question 10

Reliability

Answer 10

P- High
E- procedure was highly standardised, with control over variables (e.g., the same aggressive behaviour was shown to each child).
E- experiment can be easily replicated, which enhances the reliability of the findings.

Question 11

Applications

Answer 11

P- High apps
E- In the UK , a “watershed” on TV occurs which means that programmes with violence, sexual content, and obscene language are only shown after 9pm. Done w the intent to assume after 9pm kids will have to be asleep or w a parental figure which can choose to turn off the TV.
E- This is based on SLT’s idea of children observing antisocial or inappropriate content, they might imitate.