Bandura et al - aggression

Question 1

what is the psychology being investigated

Answer 1

The social learning theory- this is the idea that individuals can acquire new behaviors through observing and imitating role models

• The study focuses on how children learn from adult models . For learning to occur the observer must pay attention to the behavior of the model

Question 2

what are the aims of bandura et al

Answer 2

1) To investigate whether children observing a model will be significantly more aggressive than children in the non-aggressive model condition

2)To investigate whether observing a non-aggressive model will create a generalized inhibitory effect in the behavior of children

2)To investigate sex differences in imitating aggression

Question 3

what are the three hypotheses

Answer 3

1)Observed aggressive behavior will be imitated

2)Boys will be more aggressive than girls

3)Children will be more likely to copy the same sex model

Question 4

describe the sample of bandura et al

Answer 4

-72 participants, 36 boys , 36 girls
- All obtained from stanford university nursery school

-They had an age range of 37-69 months

Question 5

Describe Aggressive model condition

Answer 5

-There were 24 children (12 boys and 12 girls)
-Of the 12 boys - 6 saw a same sex model and 6 saw an opposite sex model

-Of the 12 girls - 6 saw same sex model and 6 saw a opposite sex model

Question 6

Describe the Non-aggressive model condition

Answer 6

-24 children , 12 boys , 12 girls

-Of the 12 boys , 6 saw a same sex model and 6 saw a opposite sex model

-Of the 12 girls , 6 saw a same sex model and 6 saw a opposite sex model

Question 7

Describe the no model condition

Answer 7

-24 children , 12 boys , 12 girls
-They did not see any model

Question 8

What is the experimental method in the study by Bandura

Answer 8

Laboratory experiment because it has been done in an artificial environment (a building set apart from the nursery school building)

Question 9

What are the 3 IVs in the study by Bandura

Answer 9

1)Model type (aggressive, non-aggressive , no model)
2)Sex of the child - boy or girl
3) Sex of the model - male or female

Question 10

What is the DV in the study by Bandura

Answer 10

Learning displayed by the child

Question 11

What is the experimental design in the study by Bandura

Answer 11

Independent measures with a matched pairs design

Question 12

Why is the experimental design independent measures with a matched pairs design in the study by Bandura

Answer 12

-independent measures because seperate children were used in the different model types
-Matched pairs because children were matched for their pre-existing levels of aggression , using a 4 , 5-point rating scale

Question 13

Describe how children were rated on aggressive behaviour in their nursery school prior to the study

Answer 13

they were rated on four different scales about aggression which were all 5 point scales.
These were rated by the experimenter and the nursery school teacher
they were rated on;
-Aggression inhibition
-Aggression towards inanimate objects
-Verbal aggression
-Physical aggression

Question 14

Describe the procedure before testing

Answer 14

-It took place in the children’s nursery school playground
-The observation was done by a female experimenter and a nursery school teacher
-They rated 4 behaviours….
-These behaviours were a measure of pre-existing levels of aggression
-

Question 15

Describe the procedure during exposure to the role model in the study by Bandura

Answer 15

-Each child was individually brought to a playroom by the experimenter.She then invited the model who was outside the room.
-The experimenter took the child to one corner of the room, which was their play area and demonstrated how the child could make geometrical shapes with potato prints and how to make pastoral seeds with stickers.
-The experimenter then escorted the model to the opposite corner of the room, which contained a small table and chair, a tinker toy set, a mallet and a 5-foot inflated Bobo doll
The experimenter explained to the child that these were materials that were strictly meant for the model to play with.
-When the model was seated the experimenter left the room and the model began his routine activity.

Question 16

In the study by bandura explain the aggressive model condition

Answer 16

The model begins by assembling tinker toys for approximately 1 minute and then turns to the Bobo doll and spends remainder of the time playing with it.

The model laid the doll on its side , sat on it and punched it repeatedly on the nose.

He then raised the doll , picked up the mallet and struck it on the head

He then tossed the doll up in the air aggressively and kicked it around the room

The model also included verbal aggression such as, “sock him in the nose,” “Pow,” “throw him in the air”, and two non-aggressive comments: “he keeps coming back for more” and “he sure is a tough fella”.
This lasted for about 10 minutes

Question 17

Describe the non-aggressive model condition in the study by Bandura

Answer 17

-The model spent all the 10 min of exposure assembling tinker toys in a quiet and subdued manner , completely ignoring the Bobo doll

Question 18

Describe the procedure during Aggression Arousal (delayed imitation) in the study by Bandura

Answer 18

The ss were taken to a different room set off from the nursery school building , the room contained relatively attractive toys ;
Fire engine
doll carriage
locomotive
Jet fighter plane…..
-The experimenter explained that the toys were for the ss to play with.As soon as the ss got engrossed in the play.
The experimenter remarked that “these are my best toys and i don’t let just anyone play with them”she had reserved them for other children

Question 19

Describe the procedure “Testing for delayed imitation” in the study by Bandura

Answer 19

-The experimenter and the children proceeded to the adjoining room.

-The experimenter remained in the room to avoid the child leaving prematurely
-During this time the experimenter avoided any interaction with the child

-The room contained a variety of toys including aggressive and non-aggressive toys
-Non-aggressive included; tea set , 3 bears ,crayons , 2 dolls , cars and trucks …..
-Aggressive contained; A 3 foot inflated Bobo doll , a mallet , a peg board , 2 dart games
-Children spent 20 min in the room.Judges observed the sessions through a one way glass from the adjoining observation room.
- Two more observers watched the child play and had an inter-rater reliability of 0.90
Three types of aggression were recorded: (1) imitative aggression (physical and verbal), (2) non-imitative aggression, and (3) partially imitative aggression.

Question 20

In the study by Bandura how was imitation of physical aggression measured

Answer 20

-Hitting the Bobo doll in the head with a mallet
-Sitting on the doll and punching it repeatedly on the nose
-Throwing the doll in the air and knocking it about in the room

Question 21

In the study by Bandura giveexamples of the “imitation of verbal aggression”

Answer 21

-“Throw him in the air”
“Sock him in the nose”
“Hit him down”
“Kick him”

Question 22

In the study by Bandura describe the “imitation of non-aggressive responses”

Answer 22

“He keeps coming back for more”
“He sure is a tough fella”

Question 23

What were the aggressive gunplay results in the study by Bandura

Answer 23

-Here the ss shot darts/aims gun and fires imaginary shots in the room

Question 24

What were the general results in the study by Bandura

Answer 24

-Children exposed to aggressive models were significantly more aggressive than children in the no model and non-aggressive model condition.

-Children in the non-aggressive model condition were less likely to exhibit mallet condition especially in girls

-Boys were more likely to imitate physical aggression than girls

Question 25

What were the “Partial-imitative aggression” results in the study by Bandura

Answer 25

this is when the ss showed incomplete imitative aggression

1)Mallet aggression , the ss aggresses other objects with the mallet unlike the model towards the Bobo doll only

2)Sits on the Bobo doll , here the ss lays the doll on its side and sits on it but does not punch it

Question 26

What were the “Non-imitative aggression” results in the study by Bandura

Answer 26

-These were new aggressive acts that were not displayed by the model/remarks not made by the model
e.g
“shoot the Bobo doll”
“stupid ball”
“cut him”

Question 27

Describe results with data in the study by Bandura

Answer 27

The mean imitative physical aggression in the male aggressive model condition was
7.2 for girls
25.8 for boys

Question 28

What were the comments disapproving the female models physical aggression in the study by Bandura

Answer 28

“Who is that lady? that is not the way for ladies to behave , ladies are supposed to act as ladies”

Question 29

What were the comments approving the male models physical aggression in the study by Bandura

Answer 29

“AI is a good socker , he beat up Bobo , i want to sock like AI”

Question 30

What is the conclusion in the study by Bandura

Answer 30

-Boys are more likely to copy aggression than girls
-Observed aggressive behaviours are imitated , children who see aggressive models are more likely to be more aggressive than children seeing non-aggressive models or no model
-Children are more likely to copy a same sex model

Question 31

Why is the study by Bandura from the learning approach

Answer 31

Because it investigates how aggression can be transmitted in children through imitation of aggressive models. Children observe , imitate and reproduce

Question 32

What are the useful applications to real life from the study by Bandura

Answer 32

One real world application would be regards to parents behaviour at home. boys were more likely to copy the same sex model compared to girls.
Therefor the male parent should aim to display appropriate behaviours for the male child to imitate.

Another useful application would be for tv programs that children watch.In the study children imitated aggression by watching adults therefore parents should monitor what their children watch on tv and ensure they only consume children friendly channels so their children imitate good behaviours.

Question 33

Outline one way in which the study by Bandura has a real world application for adults

Answer 33

The results of the study suggest that aggressive behaviour can be learnt and imitated by children through observation
thus media should use warnings and age restrictions for adults to choose if their kids should be exposed to certain content.

Question 34

Outline why the study by Bandura supports the nurture side of the nature vs nurture debate

Answer 34

Children in the aggressive model condition were much more likely to display aggression than children in the non-aggressive model condition. This suggests that aggressive behaviour had been learnt through observation and was not a trait they were born with

Question 35

Give 3 strengths from the study by Bandura

Answer 35

-High in reliability because of the various levels of standardisation
-High internal validity because of the many controls
-Quantitative data

Question 36

Give 3 weaknesses from the study by Bandura

Answer 36

-Ethics
-Ecological validity
-generalisability

Question 37

Does the study by Bandura support the individual or situational debate