Bandura Et Al

Question 1

Social learning theory.

Answer 1

Explains human behaviour in terms of a continuous interaction between cognitive, behavioural and environmental influences.
Aggressive behaviours are learned through reinforcement through observations of models.
Bandura showed a child’s aggressiveness is strengthened through vicarious reinforced.

Question 2

Background to study.

Answer 2

No evidence about how behaviour displayed by a model might affect an individual if the model is absent.
Study therefore exposed children to aggressive and non- aggressive adult models and tested the amount of imitative learning in a new situation in the absence of that model.
Aim - to demonstrate that learning can occur through mere observation of a model and that imitation of learned behaviour can occur in absence of that model.

Question 3

Hypothesis’.

Answer 3

1. Children shown aggressive models will show more imitative aggressive acts.
2. Children shown non-aggressive models will show less aggressive behaviour.
3. Boys will show more imitative aggression.
4. Children will imitate same-sex model behaviour more and opposite-sex behaviour.

Question 4

Research method.

Answer 4

Lab experiment.

Independent measures, matched participant design.

Question 5

IV.

Answer 5

1. Whether the child witnessed an aggressive or non-aggressive adult model in the first phase of the experiment.
2. Sex of model.
3. Sex of child.

Question 6

DV.

Answer 6

Amount of imitative behaviour and aggression shown by the child in phase three, measured by the male model, and second observer, through a one-way mirror noting down at 5 second intervals: aggressive imitative behaviour, partially imitative responses / non-aggressive imitative aggressive responses.

Question 7

Sample.

How were they matched ??

Answer 7

72 children (36 boys, 36 girls) age 37 to 69 months (mean 52 months) from a nursery school. 
Participants were matched by their nursery teacher writing them for aggressiveness on a five-point eating scale. 
They were arranged into triplets and randomly assigned to 2 of experimental groups or the control group.

Question 8

Procedure.

Phase 1.

Answer 8

Children in the experimental conditions were taken into a room individually for 10 minutes to whilst:
The aggressive model began by assembling a Tinkertoy but after a minute turned to a bobo doll and spent the remainder of the period physically and verbally aggressing it using a standardised procedure.
The non-aggressive model assembled with tinker toys in a quiet manner ignoring the bobo doll.
The control group did not participate.

Question 9

Phase 2.

Answer 9

The children were initially allowed to play with attractive toys but after two minutes experimenter took the toys away saying they’re reserved for other children (may make the children aggressive).

Question 10

Phase 3.

Answer 10

Children are then taken individually into a third room which contained both aggressive and non-aggressive toys. They were observed through one way mirror for 20 minutes whilst observers recorded behaviour in the following categories:

• Imitative physical and verbal aggression.
• Partially imitative aggression.
• Non-imitative physical and verbal aggression.
• Non-aggressive behaviour.

Question 11

Key findings.

Answer 11

Children in the aggressive condition showed more imitation of physical and verbal aggression than non-aggressive or control group.
Children in the aggressive condition showed more partial imitation and non-imitative physical and verbal aggression than non-aggressive or control condition. But results weren’t always significant.
Children in non-aggressive condition didn’t always show less aggression than control group.

Question 12

Key finding.

Sex and gender influence.

Answer 12

Boys imitated males models more than girls for physical and verbal aggression, non-imitative aggression and gun play.
This was the same with girls with female models , but results weren’t always significant.
Male model had greater influence that female model for boys and girls.
Overall boys produced more imitative physical aggression than girls.

Question 13

Conclusions.

Answer 13

Children will imitate aggressive/non-aggressive behaviours if model isn’t present.
Children can learn behaviour through observation and imitation.
Behaviour modelled by male adults has a greater influence on children’s behaviour.
Boys and girls are likely to learn verbal aggression from a same-sex adult.