SLT: Bandura (1965)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

Consider whether reinforcement and punishment of an aggressive model would influence the aggression displayed by observers (children) in response to frustration.

Question 2

Sample

Answer 2

33 boys, 33 girls aged 42-71 months from Stanford Uni Nursery.

Question 3

IV

Answer 3

The observed consequence for the model.

Question 4

DV

Answer 4

Aggression in the children.

Question 5

Research Design

Answer 5

IM

Randomly allocated to one of 3 groups, all watching a film of an adult acting aggressive to a bobo doll.

Question 6

Three conditons

Answer 6

Model-rewarded - Children saw a second adult praise the model for aggression and give them drink and choc.

Model-punished - Second adult scolded the model and spanked them with a rolled up magazine.

No consequence - Model neither reinforced or punished.

Question 7

What happened after the conditions?

Answer 7

Children were deliberately frustrated and taken into a playroom.

All 3 groups were later offered an attractive reward to aggress to the bobo doll.

Question 8

Findings

Answer 8

Children in model-punished were sig less aggressive than other two groups.

However, introducing the promise of a reward wiped out the difference, scores increased sig for all groups.

Question 9

Conclusion

Answer 9

Vicarious punishment reduces imitated aggression. However, reinforcement is a more powerful influence on aggression.

Question 10

Strength

Answer 10

Good use of controls to reduce impact of EV.

Children matched for aggression, reducing impact of Individual differences in aggression.

Non-aggressive conditions allowed researchers to control for spontaneous aggression.

Observing children 1 at a time controlled for possibility of children imitating behaviour of each other.

Internal validity enhanced as can be reasonably sure observed aggression was of imitating aggressive model.

Question 11

Competing

Answer 11

B’s research only showed short-term effects, and also aggression was only shown to a doll.

Concern that, despite the clever design, the findings don’t necessarily explain aggressive behaviour in everyday life.

Lowers ecological validity.

Question 12

Weakness

Answer 12

Elements of the procedure could have cued children as to how they were expected to behave.

Noble (1975) reports that 1 child arriving at the lab for the experiment said to their mum that there was a bobo doll they have to hit.

Suggests children may have believed they were expected to act aggressive.

Experiment may lack validity - cannot be sure to what extent results reflect learning and to what extent they are affected by DC.

Question 13

Application

Answer 13

Informed development of the Sabido method.

Bandura and Sabido (2017) pioneered the use of telenovelas to tackle specific social problems in countries all over the world. Viewers identify with popular characters who become role models. Research shows these serials have become highly effective in prompting behavioural change like increased contraception use.

Demonstrates sig contribution of SLT in promoting behaviours which are of benefit to individuals and to wider society.