Bandura Et Al Flashcards
What psychological theory was Bandura’s study based on?
Social Learning Theory (SLT), which suggests behavior is learned through observation and imitation.
What was the main aim of Bandura’s study?
To investigate whether children would imitate aggression modeled by an adult and whether factors such as the model’s gender and the child’s gender influenced this imitation.
What type of research method did Bandura use in the study?
Bandura used a laboratory experiment with controlled conditions and systematic observation of children’s behavior.
What was the sample size and gender divide of Bandura’s study?
72 children
36 girls 36 boys
Where did Bandura recruit his sample from?
Stanford University Nursery School
What experimental design was used?
Matched pairs design (children were matched on initial aggression levels).
How were aggression levels measured before the experiment?
Through observations by teachers and researchers.
What were the three experimental conditions?
Aggressive model
Non-aggressive model
Control (no model).
What happened in the aggressive model condition?
The adult model physically and verbally attacked a Bobo doll (e.g., hitting, punching, using aggressive phrases like “Sock him in the nose!”).
What happened in the non-aggressive model condition?
The model played calmly with other toys and ignored the Bobo doll.
What happened in the control condition?
Children had no exposure to a model.
Why were the children deliberately frustrated?
To create similar emotional states and test if aggression would be imitated.
How was frustration induced?
Children were taken to a room with toys, but after a short time, they were told the toys were for other children and they could not play with them.
What did the playroom contain?
Aggressive toys (Bobo doll, mallet, dart gun) and non-aggressive toys (tea set, crayons, dolls).
How was children’s behavior recorded?
Observers recorded aggression every 5 seconds for 20 minutes using a structured tally system.
What was the main finding of the study?
Children who observed an aggressive model displayed significantly more aggressive behavior than those in the non-aggressive or control conditions.
What was the average number of aggressive acts in the aggressive model condition?
25.8 aggressive acts on average.
What was the average number of aggressive acts in the non-aggressive model condition?
1.6 aggressive acts on average.
What was the average number of aggressive acts in the control group?
2.0 aggressive acts on average.
Did children imitate the exact aggressive actions of the model?
Yes, they copied both physical and verbal aggressive behaviour.
Did children in the non-aggressive condition show aggression?
They had the lowest levels, even below the control group.
How did boys and girls differ in aggression?
Boys showed more physical aggression than girls.
What made children more likely to imitate models?
The model being the same gender as the participant.
What conclusion did Bandura draw from the study?
Aggressive behavior can be learned through observation and imitation without direct reinforcement.
How does the study support Social Learning Theory?
It demonstrates the role of observational learning and modeling in behavior acquisition.
What does the study suggest about media influences?
Exposure to violent behavior in media may lead to imitation in real life.
Why was the study high in internal validity?
The study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, which ensured that extraneous variables were minimized.
The use of a matched pairs design (matching children based on their initial aggression levels) reduced individual differences. This control allows researchers to confidently conclude that observing the model’s behavior directly influenced the children’s aggression rather than other external factors.
How did Bandura ensure the study was reliable?
The study used a standardised procedure, including the same models, behaviors, and observation techniques across all participants.
The use of two independent observers (inter-rater reliability) ensured consistent recording of aggression.
Because of its clear structure, the study has been replicated multiple times with similar results, demonstrating high reliability in findings.
How is Bandura’s study useful in real-world settings?
The study has important applications in understanding media influence on children and the role of role models in behavior development. It has been used to inform policies on limiting children’s exposure to violent media, as well as shaping parenting and education strategies to promote positive behavior through reinforcement of non-aggressive models.
What are the ethical concerns in Bandura’s study?
The study raises ethical issues, particularly regarding psychological harm. Children were exposed to aggressive behavior, which could have long-term effects on their behavior. Additionally, they were deliberately frustrated (by being denied toys), which could have caused distress.
Since the participants were young children, informed consent would have been obtained from parents, but children themselves may not have fully understood their participation.
Why might the study lack ecological validity?
The study took place in a controlled laboratory setting, which is artificial and does not fully represent real-life situations. The aggression was directed at a Bobo doll, an inanimate object that does not retaliate, unlike real people. This means the findings may not fully apply to real-world aggression, where consequences and social interactions play a role in behavior.
Why is generalising Bandura’s findings difficult?
The sample consisted of 72 children from Stanford University Nursery School, meaning they were from a middle-class American background. This limits the ability to generalise findings to children from different cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, or age groups.
Additionally, the study focused only on short-term imitation, so it does not show whether aggression learned through modeling persists over time.
