Bandura et al aggression Flashcards
Background (to test)
done to test social learning theory and to understand the learning of gender specific behaviour
social learning theory, three main concepts
observation ,retention, imitation
vicarious learning theory meaning
where children learn through imitation
method
controlled observation and lab experiment
why was it a lab experiment
because the children thought they were no longer on the nursery school grounds- were in an artificial environment
Design
independant measures design
explain design
no child could be in all three groups at once- children were matched for aggression in threes
IV (3)
- exposure to aggressive models (o by aggressive/ non-aggressive)
- gender of model (o by whether model is male/female)
- gender of learner
DV
imitation of the aggressive behaviour
DV operationalised
amount of physical and verbal aggression to inanimate objects shown by children
Sample size
72 kids
boy girl distribution of sample
36B and 36G
Sample locale
Stanford university nursery school
mean age of children
52 months
sample age range
37 to 69 months
Describe the experimental groups (3)
There were 8 groups of 6 students each and a control group consisting of 24 subjects.
Describe how the experimental design was allocated (3)
Half the experimental subjects were exposed to aggressive models and the other half of the experimental subjects were exposed to the models that were non-aggressive.
These groups were further subdivided into male and female subjects.
Half the subjects in the aggressive and non aggressive conditions observed same-sex models while the remaining subjects in each group viewed models of the opposite sex.
Describe how matching took place (5)
In order to increase the precision of treatment comparisons,
subjects in the experimental and control groups were matched individually
based on rating of their aggressive behaviour in social interactions in the nursery school
This was done using four five-point rating scales by the experimenter and a nursery school teacher who knew the children reasonably well.
On the basis of these scores, subjects were arranged in triplets and assigned at random to one of two treatment conditions or to the control group.
Describe the scales used to measure aggression
The scales measured the extent to which subjects displayed physical aggression, verbal aggression, aggression toward inanimate objects and aggressive inhibition.
The scale measuring aggressive inhibition measured the subjects’ tendancy to inhibit aggressive reactions in the face of high instigation therefore providing a measure of aggression anxiety.
How was the composite score of aggression obtained
by summing the ratings on all four aggression scales.
Four hypothesis
- behaviour observe, imitate
- behaviour not observe, not imitate
- boys copy male model ,girl copy female model
- boys will copy aggression more than girls
aim
investigate observational learning of aggression in children i.e whether children will learn aggression by observing a model
what was used to measure aggression
five point scale that was filled by the experimenter and the nursery school teacher- both knew the children reasonably well
3 toys in room 1
potato print, tinker toy set, mallet and bobo doll (adult size)
3 toys in room 2
fire engine, locomotive, doll set
3 toys in room 3
bobo doll- child size, mallet, two dart guns (there was a one-way mirror)
three controls
- toys in room 1 and 3 were the same and always in the same position
- actions of the aggressive model were the same in the same order for the same length of time
- observations were done by two independant observers.
Imitative learning
learning of new behaviour which is observed in a role model and imitated later in the absence of the model
Child was in room 1 for how long before going to room 2
10 minutes
what is the frustration aggression hypothesis
the child is highly likely to behave in an aggressive way given the opportunity
Examples of verbal aggressive behaviour (3)
- sock it in the nose
- throw him in the air
kick him
Examples of physical aggressive behaviour (3)
- sit and bobo doll and hit with mallet
- throw bobo doll in air
- kick bobo out of room
Example of non-aggressive behaviour
model played quietly with the tinker toy set
what was child told in room 2
’ these toys are her very best toys, that she did not let anyone play with, and that she had decided to reserve them for the other children’
How did the experimenter reduce her influence on the subject’s behaviour?
by remaining as inconspicuous as possible by busying herself with paper work at a desk in the far corner of the room and avoiding any interaction with the child
Behaviour in room 3 was observed for how long?
20 minutes
Prediction
subjects would reproduce agressive acts resembling those of their models
How was it useful (2)
- As the study showed that aggression can be observed and imitated, TV networks might want to censor the content of TV programmes
- Ensure that there are warnings on TV shows about the level of aggressive content allowing parents to choose what their children should/ should not watch
Result of complete imitation of imitative behaviour
subjects exposed to the aggressive models had significantly higher scores than those in the other groups
Results for partial imitative aggression
Girls who observed nonaggressive models performed a mean number of 0.5 mallet aggression responses as compared to mean values of 18.0 and 13.1 for girls in the aggressive and control groups, respectively.
Result for non imitative aggression
- The aggressive and non-aggressive group had a significant difference from each other as the aggressive groups had the greater amount of aggression
- Girls spent more time playing with dolls with the tea set and colouring. In comparison, boys had more exploratory play with the guns
Result for non imitative aggression
- The aggressive and non-aggressive group had a significant difference from each other as the aggressive groups had the greater amount of aggression
- Girls spent more time playing with dolls with the tea set and colouring. In comparison, boys had more exploratory play with the guns
Result of influence of the sex of model
- no difference in terms of verbal aggression
- male to male created higher imitation of physical and verbal imitative aggression and more aggressive gun play
- female to female created more imitative verbal aggression and more non imitative aggression compared to boys
Nature debate
The boys were more likely to imitate physical aggression. This shows that boys are ‘born’ more aggressive as they are naturally more aggressive
Nurture debate (3)
Boys were more likely to imitate the physical aggression that they had only seen from a model. This shows that they have learnt the aggressive behaviour from observing the model.
Children had been matched on levels of aggression so nay increased aggression levels they showed in the study had to be learnt
Bandura stated that it was the social learning theory that caused the aggressive behaviour
Explain the ethic of confidentiality
any data should not be identifiable as a single participant’s response
all we know is that the children were from a nursery at Stanford University Nursery school and their mean age.
Explain the ethic of protection from physical harm
Ppts should leave the study in the same physical state as they entered
Children could have injured themselves when playing or hitting the bobo doll
Explain the ethic protection from psychological harm
Participants should leave the study in the same mental state as they entered
The children could have left the study thinking that aggression was good so their way of thinking had been changed
Explain the ethic right to withdraw
Participants should be able to leave the study at any point
In the experimental room, the experimenter remained with the child so they could not leave the room
