Bandura et al Flashcards
What was the aim of Bandura et al.’s 1961 study?
To investigate whether children would imitate aggressive behavior modeled by an adult, and if imitation would differ based on the model’s gender or the child’s gender.
What theory was Bandura testing in the Bobo doll experiment?
Social Learning Theory, which suggests that people learn behaviors through observation and imitation of others.
How many children participated in the Bandura et al. (1961) study?
72 children (36 boys and 36 girls) aged between 3 and 6 years old.
How were the children in Bandura’s study divided into groups?
Children were divided into three groups: one exposed to an aggressive model, one exposed to a non-aggressive model, and one with no model (control group).
What was the aggressive behavior displayed by the adult model in the experiment?
The adult model physically and verbally attacked a Bobo doll by hitting, kicking, and using a hammer, along with aggressive verbal remarks.
What were the key findings regarding the children exposed to the aggressive model?
Children who observed the aggressive model were more likely to imitate both physical and verbal aggression compared to those in the non-aggressive or control groups.
How did the gender of the model and child influence the results?
Boys were more likely to imitate physical aggression, especially if the model was male, while girls imitated verbal aggression more when the model was female.
What was one significant conclusion drawn from Bandura et al.’s study?
Children can learn and imitate behaviors they observe in others, especially when the model is of the same gender or seen as powerful.
What research method did Bandura et al. use in the study?
Laboratory experiment with controlled conditions and matched pairs design based on aggression levels.
How did Bandura measure aggression in the children after the experiment?
Through structured observations in a room where children had access to aggressive and non-aggressive toys, and researchers recorded instances of imitative aggression.
What were the ethical considerations raised about the Bandura et al. study?
Potential harm to children through exposure to aggression, lack of informed consent (by children), and potential long-term effects of teaching aggressive behavior.
What is “vicarious reinforcement” as it relates to Bandura’s study?
Learning behavior by observing the consequences of others’ actions, though Bandura’s 1961 study did not directly address reinforcement as later studies did.
