social learning theory - bandura et al (1963,1965)

Question 1

aim of his 1963 study (2)?

Answer 1

1. investigate whether a filmed model would have the same effect as a live model on children’s aggression
2. investigate whether cartoon aggression would have similar impact to realistic filmed aggression

Question 2

setting ? (63)

Answer 2

lab experiment

Question 3

experimental design ? (63)

Answer 3

independant groups

Question 4

how many ppts ? (63)

Answer 4

• 48 boys
• 48 girls
• so 96 overall

Question 5

how old were the ppts ? (63)

Answer 5

39-52 months

Question 6

where were the ppts selected from ? (63)

Answer 6

stanford university nursery

Question 7

what was the independent variable ? (63)

Answer 7

the model (live, filmed or cartoon)

Question 8

what was the dependant variable ? (63)

Answer 8

level of aggression the children displayed

Question 9

what were the four conditions ? (63)

Answer 9

1. live aggression
2. filmed realistic aggression
3. cartoon aggression condition
4. control group

Question 10

what were the findings ? (63)

Answer 10

• all three experimental groups displayed increased aggression
• total acts of aggression:
  
  1. live = 83
  2. filmed realistic = 92
  3. cartoon = 99
  4. control = 54
• difference between the aggressive groups not significant - but the difference between them and control was significant

Question 11

conclusion? (63)

Answer 11

exposure to live or filmed aggression increases the likelihood of aggression in response to frustration, even if the aggression is modelled by a cartoon figure

Question 12

aim of ‘65 ?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

number of ppts ? (‘65)

Answer 13

• 33 boys
• 33 girls
• 66 overall

Question 14

age of ppts? (‘65)

Answer 14

42-71 months

Question 15

independent variable ? (‘65)

Answer 15

the observed consequence for the model

Question 16

dependent variable ? (‘65)

Answer 16

the aggression in the children

Question 17

what were the three conditions ? (‘65)

Answer 17

1. model-rewarded condition
2. model-punished condition
3. no-consequence

Question 18

what was the reward in the ‘65 study ?

Answer 18

a drink and a chocolate

Question 19

all three groups from ‘65 were made frustrated by being shown toys that they were not allowed to play with (as it was in all the previous bandura studies), but what was different this time when the children were invited to play with the BOBO Doll ?

Answer 19

the children (all the groups) were later offered attractive rewards to aggress towards the doll

Question 20

what were the findings ? (‘65)

Answer 20

• children in model-punished group were significantly less aggressive that the other two groups
• however, introducing the promise of a reward wiped out the difference, increasing the scores significantly for all groups

Question 21

what was the conclusion? (‘65)

Answer 21

vicarious punishment reduces imitated aggression. however, the promise of reinforcement is a more powerful influence on aggression

Question 22

internal validity of both ?

Answer 22

• strength of both is that the controls used reduced the impact of extraneous variables
• matched pairs design used
• non-aggressive condition allowed researchers to control for spontaneous aggression

Question 23

competing argument for validity of both?

Answer 23

• bandura’s research only showed short-term effects
• aggression was only shown towards a doll (lacks ecological validity)
• therefore, despite the clever design - findings don’t necessarily explain aggression in real life

Question 24

why did both experiments have problems with demand characteristics ?

Answer 24

• elements of the procedure could have cued the children as to how they were expected to behave
• noble (1975) reports that one child arriving at the lab for the experiment said, ‘look mummy, there’s the doll we have to hit’
• means experimental procedures may lack validity - we cannot be sure if the children were performing under demand characteristics or not

Question 25

what is an application of both studies ?

Answer 25

• further strength of SLT is that it has informed the development of the sabido method
• bandura and sabido pioneered the use of telenovelas to tackle specific social problems in countries all over the world
• viewers identify with the actors and they become role models - these shows have been shown to have an effect on prompting behavioural change
• this shows that SLT has made a significant contribution in promoting behaviours which are of the benefit to individuals and also to wider society