Social Learning Theory Flashcards
What does the social learning theory suggest about aggression?
Aggressive behaviour is learned through observing aggression from a role model and then imitating it. Aggressive behaviour is more likely to be repeated if an individual observes someone being positively reinforced which is vicarious reinforcement
What is an example of the social learning theory showing aggression?
Observing a bully using aggressive behaviour to get money from another student and the bully is rewarded with money so the observer may imitate this in the hope they will get the reward too
What are the mediating cognitive processes?
Attention, retention, motivation and reproduction
Who conducted the research onto the social learning theory of aggression?
Bandura, Ross and Ross
What was the method of Bandura et als study?
Banduras bobo doll study
What were the findings and conclusion of Bandura et als study?
There was a larger amount of aggression observed on children from the aggressive condition for both physical and verbal aggression. This shows that children could learn aggression from imitating role models
What are four limitations of Bandura et als study?
- lacks ecological validity as not as good example (bobo doll) of human aggression
- bobo doll is designed to be hit
- having adult role model so normalises aggression
- sample was children of Banduras colleagues so biased
Who conducted the second study onto the social learning theory of aggression?
Pinto da mota matos
What did Pinto da Mota Matos find?
Identification with an aggressive model from the TV was linked to aggression in Portuguese students showing the process of SLT affecting aggression
Who conducted the third study onto the social learning theory of aggression?
Bandura
What did Bandura find?
People who live in areas with high crime rates have a greater likelihood of committing a violent crime which shows that an exposure to a greater number aggressive acts caused them to be more aggressive
What are two strengths of the social learning theory of aggression?
- explains why people only become aggressive in certain situations
- Mennonites and Amish communities are peace loving and believe that aggression is wrong so shows that aggression is learnt and not genetic
What is a limitation of the social learning theory of aggression?
It shows an immediate effect on the observer but doesn’t show if this continues into the long term as aggression over a lifetime may not have been learned this way
