Social Learning Theory Explanantion

Question 1

What is the social learning theory for aggression

Answer 1

Children acquire aggressive behaviours through observing aggressive models and the consequences of their behaviour- aggressive acts carried out by a role model will be internalised by an individual and reproduced in the future

Question 2

What role do te mediational processes play in aggression

Answer 2

Children form mental representations of events in social situations and they will develop expectations of future outcomes and these influence whether aggressive behaviour is imitated or not

Question 3

Explain how vicarious reinforcement relates to aggressive behaviour

Answer 3

If a model’s aggressive behaviour is rewarded (or not punished) then the child learns the aggression can be effective in getting what they want, which makes it more likely that the observing child will imitate the model’s aggressive behaviour

Question 4

Explain how vicarious punished ent relates to aggressive behaviour

Answer 4

If a model’s aggressive behaviour is punished then the child learns that’s aggression is not beneficial behaviour to achieve their goals, which makes it less likely that the observing child will imitate the model’s aggressive behaviour

Question 5

What is self-efficacy in relation to aggression

Answer 5

The extent to which we believe our actions will achieve a desired goal- a child’s confidence in their ability to be aggressive grows as they learn that aggression can bring rewards

Question 6

Describe Bandura’s (1965) study

Answer 6

• children were shown an adult model either being rewarded, punished or receive no consequences for acting aggressively towards a bobo doll
• Bandura found that children who saw model who saw model receive praise and reward were more likely to imitate aggression toward the bobo doll
• Girls were more restrained by the threat of punishment, but this effect lessens when they are offered positive incentive for imitating aggressive behaviour

Question 7

Explain the findings of Bnadura’s (1961) study

Answer 7

• Bandura found that the children who observed the aggressive adult model imitated the exact same aggressive behaviour toward the bobo doll
• verbal aggression was sex-typed, whilst boys were more likely to engage in psysical aggression
• all children were more likely to imitate same-sex models