Bandura

Question 1

Give one example of imitative aggression and one example of non-imitative aggression in the study.

Answer 1

• Imitative: Verbally agressive responses such as “pow!” and “sock him in the nose”
• Non-imitative: Physical aggression towards any other objects than the Bobo doll, e.g. the tether ball.

Question 2

Why did the researchers look at both types of aggression (imitative and non-imitative)?

Answer 2

Any aggressive act that was imitative would be due to observation of the model in stage 1 and therefore supports the social learning theory. However, aggressive behaviours that weren’t imitative may highlight the aggression induced in stage 2 and shows that not all aggression needs to be observed to be learnt.

Question 3

Give a prediction of the study and evaluate whether the results of the study support this prediction.

Answer 3

• Boys should show significantly more imitative aggression than girls, especially when shown to a male model rather than the female.

Question 4

Outline 2 ethical issues raised by the study.

Answer 4

• Informed consent: No mention of receiving consent from the parents to take part in the study.
• Right to withdraw: Highly unlikely that the children were informed of their right to withdraw.

Question 5

How were the children matched in the study?

Answer 5

• By gender, so the groups were subdivided into 4 smaller groups: boys watching a same-sex mode, boys watching an opposite sex model and vice versa for the 2 female groups.
• By age.
• They were also matched by aggression. The aggressiveness ratings were taken for each child beforehand and so on the basis of these ratings, the participants were arranged into threes and assigned at random to one of the three groups.

Question 6

Why were the children matched in the study?

Answer 6

The children were matched in the study in order to control individual differences in pre-existing aggression or any other variables which may affect the dependent variable.

Question 7

Give 2 examples of behaviours that were imitated by the children.

Answer 7

• Repeatedly punching the Bobo doll on the nose.

- Verbal aggressive responses such as “pow!” and “sock him in the nose”.

Question 8

Suggest one implication for society if children do learn by imitation.

Answer 8

The 9 o’clock watershed is important in order that children do not imitate the violence shown on TV.

Question 9

Outline one difference that was found between the aggressive behaviour of boys and that of girls.

Answer 9

• Boys were influenced more by a male model, and girls by a female model in the verbal condition.

Question 10

Outline one possible reason for the gender differences that were found.

Answer 10

Boys are generally brought up to be more aggressive.

Question 11

Outline how the children were subjected to mild arousal of aggression in stage 2 of the study.

Answer 11

They were taken to another room outside of the nursery that contained new and attractive toys (for example a fire engine). The child was given allowance to play with the toys but after a 2 minute period, the experimenter told the child she had decided to reserve the toys for the other children. The experimenter then led the child to the adjoining room.

Question 12

Why was it necessary to arouse mild aggression in stage 2 of the study?

Answer 12

Watching aggressive behaviour may reduce the probability of behaving aggressively, making it less likely that those observing the aggressive behaviour would behave aggressively. Also, the children who watched the non-aggressive model might be inhibited from behaving aggressively because of what they observed.

Question 13

Give 2 findings from the study.

Answer 13

• Boys imitated physical and verbal aggression of the male model more than the female model.
• For punching the Bobo doll, exposure to an opposite sex model had a greater influence.

Question 14

Identify 2 categories of aggression that were measured and outline the finding for one of these categories.

Answer 14

• Imitative physical aggression: boys were more physically aggressive than girls.
• Imitative verbal aggression.

Question 15

Explain why, in the second stage of the experiment, the researchers removed attractive toys from the children after allowing them to play with them for a few minutes.

Answer 15

It provided a stimulus to provoke aggressive behaviour so that the effect of either model on the child’s response could be seen.

Question 16

Outline how the children’s pre-existing levels of aggression were measured in the study.

Answer 16

These were taken beforehand by the experimenter and the nursery school teacher by using four five point rating scales. These scales measured the extent of which the participants displayed physical aggression, verbal aggression, aggression towards inanimate objects and aggressive inhibition.

Question 17

Explain how one control was used in the study.

Answer 17

The toys were arranged in set positions for each child in stage 3 and so this kept the experiment standardised and so therefore the toy the child picked was based on personal preference not on the placing of the toy.

Question 18

Suggest one reason why it’s difficult to generalise from the findings of the study to aggression outside the laboratory.

Answer 18

There’s low ecological validity due to the artificial nature of the study, for example an adult hitting a Bobo doll isn’t something you’re likely to experience in the real world.

Question 19

Explain why a one-way mirror was use to observe the children.

Answer 19

It was used to ensure that the children did not produce demand characteristics due to an unknown adult in the room, i.e. so the child doesn’t show aggression due to feeling like they need to behave in front of the adult.

Question 20

Explain how the evidence from the study could support the nurture view of aggression.

Answer 20

The finding that children who viewed the aggressive model showed greater imitation of aggression supports the social learning theory.

Question 21

Outline 2 controls used.

Answer 21

• Pre-existing levels of aggression, sex and age.

- The way the model acted in the room was standardised, for example every aggressive model said “pow!”.

Question 22

Identify 2 characteristics of the sample used in the study.

Answer 22

• Boys and girls.
• Aged 5-7 years old.
• 72 children.

Question 23

Outline one difficulty which may arise when psychologists study children.

Answer 23

They don’t know how well the children will response or if they will even understand the experiment.

Question 24

Outline how the behaviour of the model was manipulated.

Answer 24

The non-aggressive model behaved in a subdued manner with the toys (totally ignoring the Bobo doll), whereas the aggressive model displayed a standardised set of physical and verbal aggressive acts towards the Bobo doll.

Question 25

Identify 2 experimental groups in the study.

Answer 25

• An aggressive male model and an aggressive female model.

- A non-aggressive male and female model.

Question 26

Outline 2 ways in which the study can be considered low in ecological validity.

Answer 26

• The study was conducted in a specially designed environment with 3 different rooms specially equipped with toys and games.
• Children aren’t usually subjected to observing an adult acting aggressively in a physical manner towards a Bobo doll.