SLT and aggression

Question 1

Who are the two main researchers?

Answer 1

Bandura

Walters

Question 2

How does the SLT say aggressive behaviour is learnt?

Answer 2

Observation and Imitation

Question 3

What is vicarious (indirect) reinforcement?

Answer 3

Children learn about the consequences of aggressive behaviour by watching others get reinforced or punished.

They learn a behaviour though observation, then learn if it is worth repeating through vicarious reinforcement

Question 4

What role does Mental Representation play?

Answer 4

Child makes mental representations of social environment

Child also represents possible rewards and punishment (expecting future outcomes)

When the opportunity arises, child will display the learned behaviour as long as they expect a reward more than a punishment

These rules the child learns about how to behave and when are known as ‘The Script’

Question 5

Maintenance through direct experience

Answer 5

If a child is rewarded (gets what they want) for a behaviour, they are likely to repeat it in the future.

For example a successful bully may continue to be aggressive

Question 6

Self-efficacy

Answer 6

A child is more likely to repeat an aggressive behaviour is they were good at it. They become more confident in their ability to carry out that action.

Question 7

What key study can be used?

Answer 7

Bandura’s Bobo doll study

Question 8

AO3

What is a weakness of Bobo doll study?

Answer 8

Lack of realism

The doll is not a living person and does not retaliate when hit. In real life, a person would retaliate

Question 9

AO3

Supporting evidence from ice hockey

Answer 9

Gee and Leith

Analysed penalty records from 200 NHL games

It was found that more penalties are given away by North American players.

Due to the fact that there are more aggressive role models in America, and they were les likely to be punished for aggressive behaviour compared to Europeans.

Question 10

AO3

Support from Kung San of the Kalahari Desert

Answer 10

This group displayed very low levels of aggression.

1) When two children fight, there is no reward or punishment, they are just separated.

2) There are no aggressive punishments or behaviours ever displayed by adults

Therefore, there is no direct reinforcement of aggression, and there are also no aggressive models.
This means there is no opportunity, or motivation for aggression.