Banduras Doll Study

Question 1

Banduras doll study aim, sample and procedure

Answer 1

Aim - see whether aggressive behaviour could be learned though observation

Sample-36 boys and 36 girls

Procedure - controlled enviorment

Non aggressive condition children observed models assemble toys in a quiet manner ignoring the doll

Aggressive condition children observed model acting aggressively towards the doll

Question 2

Banduras doll study findings and conclusions

Answer 2

Finding - children in aggressive conditions had significantly higher physical and verbal aggression scores

Boys more likely to imitate aggression than girls (boys more aggressive than girls)

Conclusion - observation of behaviour can lead to imitative learning

People are more likely to imitate male aggressive models as physical aggression is perceived as more of a male appropriate behaviour

Question 3

Social learning theory Ao3 strength

Answer 3

Uses scientific methods

So it uses scientific enquiry to investigate human behaviour

Based on objective and empirical techniques such as Banduras doll lab experiment

Which had high control over extraneous variables such as role model modelling same types of aggression for each child

Therefore could be argued this increases overall internal validity of social learning theory as explanation for human behaviour

Raising psychology’s scientific status

Question 4

Social learning theory Ao3 strength

Answer 4

Practical applications

Principles of the theory that behaviour is caused by observing and imitating a model

Which has been used by the government to control the media portray certain behaviours

E.g restricted advertisement of cigarettes, alcohol and gambling in order to reduce negative behaviour

Therefore social learning theory as an explanation of human behaviour is an important part of applied psychology

As it helps to promote positive behaviours in the real world

Question 5

Social learning theory Ao3 strength

Answer 5

Praised for going beyond behaviourist approach

Considers humans have element of free will in learning (soft determinism)

All behaviour is a result of external causes

(Learning through imitating a model)

As individuals we also have the ability to make conscious decisions about whether we or not to imitate behaviour and who we chose to model behaviour from

Thus social learning theory as an explanation of human behaviour could be considered superior to approaches that take a hard determinism stance