Social learning theory explanation Flashcards
What is the social learning theory for aggression?
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.
What role do the mediational processes play in aggression?
Attention - A basic cognitive requirement is that the observer must pay attention to the model’s aggressive actions.
Retention - The observer also needs to be able to remember the model’s aggressive actions to form a symbolic mental representation of how the behaviour is performed.
Motor reproduction - The observer must be able to transform the mental representation of the aggressive behaviour into actual physical action.
Motivation - The observer needs a reason to imitate behaviour, which will depend on their expectations that acting aggressively in certain situations will be rewarded.
Explain how vicarious reinforcement relates to aggressive behaviour.
If a model’s aggressive behaviour is rewarded (or not punished) then the child learns that 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.
Explain how vicarious punishment relates to aggressive behaviour.
If a model’s aggressive behaviour is punished then the child learns that 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.
What is self-efficacy in relation to aggression?
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.
Explain the findings of Bandura’s (1961) study.
Bandura found that the children who observed the aggressive adult model imitated the exact same aggressive behaviour toward the bobo doll
All children were more likely to imitate same-sex models.
Describe Bandura’s (1965) study.
Children were shown an adult model either being rewarded, punished or receive no consequence for acting aggressively towards a bobo doll. Bandura found that children who saw model receive praise and reward were more likely to imitate aggression toward the bobo doll.
Which studies show support for the social learning theory of aggression?
Bandura (1961) - observation and imitation of aggressive/non-aggressive role models.
Bandura (1965) - imitation of aggressive behaviour based on observed consequence and incentive offered
3 Strengths of SLT for aggression
Real World Application:
The American Psychological Association (APA) developed the ACT (Raising Safe Kids) program, an early prevention intervention, that aims to educate parents and caregivers of young children. The program is designed to educate caregivers to be positive role models through a decrease in coercive parenting behaviour, encouraging positive discipline and increasing child development knowledge.
Research support:
Gee and Leith (2007) - analysed penalty records from 200 games of the National Hockey League and found players born in North America were disproportionately more likely to commit aggressive acts than their European counterparts. They hypothesised that players born in North America would have been exposed to greater media representation of aggressive models when young and likely received reinforcement from coaches, teammates, parents ect.
Explains cultural differences:
SLT can be used to explain cultural differences in aggression. Among !Kung, one of the San peoples who live in the Kalahari Desert, displays of aggression are rare. This could be due to their child-rearing practices. Parents avoid aggressive postures and they’re devalued by society at large. This overt lack of aggressive role models and absence of direct reinforcement of aggressive behaviour has led to little motivation for !Kung children to acquire aggressive behaviours through social learning.
2 Limitations of Social Learning theory explanations for aggression
Low mundane realism:
Many studies investigating aggression and social learning rely on experimental research conducted under controlled conditions. For example, Bandura et al.’s (1961) Bobo doll study, has various methodological problems. The Bobo doll is not a living creature and does not retaliate when hit. Additionally, the doll is a toy which is designed to be struck. Perhaps just hitting it as that’s what they thought they were supposed to do.
Unable to explain reactive aggression The principles of SLT don’t provide sufficient explanation for the occurrence of reactive aggression. Reactive aggression occurs instantly in response to a trigger, or as a retaliation tactic (lacks premeditation or forethought). Found that boys aged 9-12 influenced each others proactive aggression as they attach a positive value to the use of this behaviour, including reinforcement by peers. However, reactive aggression was found to not be impacted by peers in the same way due to the unreliability of consequences. This suggests that children do not learn reactive aggression through social learning, and thus the social learning explanation for aggression is not comprehensive as it does not explain all types of aggression.
