Social Learning Theory - Bandura 1961

Question 1

Name the 3 Bandura studies

Answer 1

1. Transmission of aggression through imitation of an aggressive model 1961
2. Imitation of film mediated aggressive models 1963
3. Social Learning Theory 1965

Question 2

What method was used? Evaluate this.

Answer 2

Lab experiment (control extraneous variables + standardised = high reliability)

Question 3

What design was used and why?

Answer 3

Matched pairs (Individual differences)

Question 4

How many participants?

Answer 4

72, 36 girls and 36 boys

Question 5

How many conditions? Name them

Answer 5

• Aggressive role-model
• Non-aggressive role-model
• No role-model (control group)

Question 6

Describe the procedure

Answer 6

• Groups subdivided into same-sex + opposite sex role-model groups (6 boys, 6 girls in each)
• Modelling Stage 1 - 10 mins. Toys in room + aggressive model in aggressive condition, neutral model in non-aggressive c.
• Mild aggression arousal Stage 2 2 mins. Attractive toys taken away by experimenter, saying “Those are my very best toys! I don’t just let anyone play with them!”
• Delayed imitation test Stage 3 - 20 mins. Variety of aggressive + non-aggressive toys. Behaviour observed at 5 sec intervals. Categories of behaviour: Imitative physical aggression, imitative verbal aggression, non-imitative aggression, mallet aggression, gun play

Question 7

4

Results

Answer 7

1. P’s in aggressive condition showed more aggressive behaviour
2. P’s in non-aggressive condition showed no significant difference in aggressive behaviour to the control group.
3. Children more likely to copy same-sex model.
4. Boys imitated more aggressive acts than girls.

Question 8

Evaluation: Generalisability

Answer 8

Weakness:
* Not representative of target population - all P’s from Stanford Uni nursery
* All 3-5 y.o’s. Not generalisable to older children/adults.

Question 9

Evaluation: Reliability

Answer 9

Strengths:
* High reliability - standardised procedures = easily replicable
* High inter-rater reliability (0.9) between 2 observers in Stage 3

Question 10

Evaluation: Applications

Answer 10

Strength
* Shows effect of aggressive role models on children’s behaviour.
* Aided development of film ratings

Question 11

Evaluation: Ecological validity

Answer 11

Weakness
* Lab setting = lacks ecological validity.
* Artificial environment = less natural behaviour
* Eg. controlled setting not a realistic reflection of children’s natural play environment
* Limited real-world applications

Question 12

Evaluation: Validity

Answer 12

Strength
* Internal validity, lab setting = severe controls of extraneous variables
* Eg. matched pairs of similair aggression ratings ensures control of aggression levels
* Cause + effect links
* Main variables controlled = high validity

Weakness
* Children may think they’re expected to hit the Bobo doll - demand characteristic means results aren’t because of observational learning therefore validity lowered.

Question 13

Evaluation: Ethics

Answer 13

Weakness
* Not clear how consent was granted
* P’s not protected from harm: trained to be aggressive. Unsure of how long effects of study would last as children were never followed up.
* Children upset in Stage 2 Aggression arousal.

Question 14

What did Bandura conclude?

3 main principles

Answer 14

Behaviour is learned when a role model is observed and imitated.