Lesson 7-Social psychological explanations of aggression-SLT

Question 1

what is SLT and aggression and who?

Answer 1

-Bandura proposed that aggression can also be learnt by the indirect mechanism of observational learning
-SLT maintains that children learn through a process of imitation
-aggressive acts carried out by a role model will be internalised by an individual and reproduced in the future, vicarious reinforcement can encourage behaviour reproduction

Question 2

Main cognitive factors/mediation all processes that mediate control of aggressive behaviour

Answer 2

-attention: child must pay attention to an act of aggression carried out by a role model
-retention: to model the behaviour the child needs to remember the aggression they witnessed (LTM)
-motor reproduction: needs to be able to reproduce the behaviour, physical capabilities
-motivation: expectation of receiving positive reinforcement for behaviour, not always materialistic, happens through vicarious reinforcement
-self-efficacy: must have confidence in their own ability to carry out the action and be rewarded, and believe their behaviour will attain a goal

Question 3

Bandura extra notes

Answer 3

-aggressive reinforcement in the form of imitation of family members was the most prominent source of behaviour modelling
-parents are the primary role models for their children, through a process of observation and identification their behaviour is modelled
-role models in the media can provide a source of vicarious reinforcement which can lead to aggressive behaviour being replicated

Question 4

Banduras research

Answer 4

-matched pairs design, 3-5 year old children, equal amount of boys and girls in each condition
-three conditions: male and female adult role model behaving aggressively towards a BOBO doll, male and female adult role model not behaving aggressively towards a BOBO doll, control group where the children did not observe any adult role model
-each taken to a room where they were exposed to attractive toys but told they could not play with them to induce mild frustration
-then all taken to a room and were allowed to play with toys including the BOBO doll
-children who saw the adult role model behaving aggressively towards the BOBO doll copied the behaviour

Question 5

Strength (Bandura 2)

Answer 5

-abundance of research support, Bandura undertook multiple studies in America that support SLT and aggressive behaviour
-another study by Bandura, matched pairs, 96 children aged 3-5matched for baseline aggression levels
- filmed aggressive role model, cartoon aggressive role model, live aggressive role model, control condition
-then played with BOBO doll and aggressive acts were counted
-cartoon role model group produced highest mean number of aggressive acts
-viewing of aggression was not cathartic, but led to modelling of aggressive behaviour

Question 6

Strength (practical application)

Answer 6

-shows how aggression can be reduced
-provide rewarded non-aggressive role models for children to identify with
-reduce development of aggressive behaviour

Question 7

Weakness (biological)

Answer 7

-underestimates the influence of biological factors that could be important in explaining aggression eg. genes, neural, hormonal factors
-research has shown that aggression is a very instinctive behaviour, biology rather than environment

Question 8

Weakness (cultural bias)

Answer 8

-Christianson (2006) studied the Kung San people of the Kahari desert and found aggressive behaviour was very rare in this society
-no value placed on aggression so no cultural norms for aggression
-arguably should only be applied to western cultures, Bandura’s studies only conducted in America

Question 9

Weakness (forms of aggression)

Answer 9

-explains some forms of aggression
-reactive aggression is harder to explain with SLT
-aggression carried out as a reaction to an external stimulus may be better explained by the F-A hypothesis rather than as a result of observational learning