SLT in aggression Flashcards
What is direct learning?
Learning through your own consequences through operant conditioning
Describe why an aggressive child is likely to repeat aggression in the future.
They realise that their aggression is rewarding as it can get them what they want. (eg: snatching a toy is rewarding)
What is indirect learning?
Seeing others receive consequences for their actions
What is vicarious reinforcement in the context of aggression?
We see a role model receive a reward for their aggressive behaviour so we are more likely to reproduce the aggressive behaviour in hopes of receiving a reward ourselves.
What is vicarious punishment in the context of aggression?
Vicarious punishment is where we see the model receive a punishment for their behaviour so we are less likely to imitate as we fear punishment ourselves
What is observational learning?
Learning about aggression by watching others.
Give examples of the mediational processes that occur for aggression.
- Attention – Observer notices the behaviour.
- Retention – Remembering the model’s aggressive actions.
- Reproduction – The observer must be physically capable of doing the aggression. Involves mental appraisal. For example, a child who learns about snatching must be physically strong enough to do this.
- Motivation – There must be a reason for the observer to want to imitate (such as a reward)
What is self efficacy?
The extent to which we believe our actions will achieve a desired goal
Give an example of self efficacy that occurs in children who hit others to make sure they get a toy.
if a child hits other children to make them hand over a toy, they learn that aggression leads to a successful outcome so will continue to use it in the future.
Why might a childs confidence in their aggression grow?
They learn aggression is rewarding.
Explain the strength that SLT can reduce aggression.
Why might children be more likely to imitate?
Explain how a non aggressive model being rewarded can reduce aggression.
Why might aggressive children be told to form friendships with non aggressive children?
Children readily imitate models when they observe them being rewarded for any behaviour, especially when they identify with them. This applies to modeling aggressive behaviour. Ine way to reduce aggression is to provide rewarded non aggressive models. The same learning processes that can lead to aggressive behaviour can produce non aggression. For instance, encouraging children to form friendships with children rewarded for non-aggression gives them more opportunities to model non aggressive behaviour. Therefore SLT offers practical steps to reduce development of aggressive behaviour in children.
Explain the strength of support for aggression from Bandura.
Bandura showed children video clips of an aggressive adult male model hitting a bobo doll. They then either viewed the model be reinforced, punished or receive no consequence for their violent behaviour. Children then received their own bobo doll to hit. Bandura found that those who behaved most aggressively towards the doll were those who had seen the model receive a reward for their behaviour. This demonstrates vicarious reinforcement as the children would have hoped to be reinforced themselves. This shows that SLT is a valid theory to show learning of aggression.
Explain the limitation of methodological issues in SLT research.
What are the benefits of controlled experiments?
However, why might studies lack ecological validity?
What were the issues with demand characteristics in Bandura’s study?
Many studies of SLT and aggression are conducted in controlled conditions meaning that researchers can manipulate an IV while controlling potential confounding variables Control allows research to establish that social learning causes aggression. However, such studies are unlike real world learning situations. They create ideal testing situations which generally do not exist in reality. For example, the Bobo doll in Bandura’s study was designed to be hit, therefore, the children may have just been playing with the doll how it was meant to be played with. Therefore, research into SLT and aggression may not be valid in supporting the theory.
Explain the limitation of SLT ignoring biology.
Use the example of testosterone and mirror neurones.
In Bandura’s research, he found that boys were more likely to imitate the aggressive model than girls. SLT would suggest that this was because the model was male and therefore they were more likely to imitate as they identified with him. However, biological explanations would say that this is because boys have higher levels of testosterone and this is therefore causes more aggressive behaviour. Another biological explanation would be the presence of mirror neurons in the brain which lead to copying. This suggests that SLT is an inadequate explanation of learning aggression.
