social learning theory identification includes a study

Question 1

Social Learning Theory: Identification

Answer 1

People imitate the behaviour of role models i.e, people they identify with.

Modelling: Modelling is the precise demonstration of a specific behaviour that may be imitated by an observer.

Question 2

Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961)
Procedure:
Phase 1: Modelling

Answer 2

• Condition A: aggressive model:
• Twice through a set script including
• Lay doll on the side and sit on it, punch on nose, throw in the air, and kick about the room.
• Say “he sure is a tough fella”, “hit him down”, “pow”.
• Condition B: Nonaggressive model:
• Ignore the bobo doll and sit quietly assembling tinker toys.
• Control: this group did not join the study until phase 2.

Question 3

Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961)
Procedure:
Phase 2: Aggression arousal

Answer 3

• Each child was taken into a room with attractive toys, doll set and fire engine.
• After 2 minutes the exp. Took the toys “for the other children”.
• This was so that all children were equally aroused to aggression when they encountered the bobo doll in phase 3.

Question 4

Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961)
Procedure:
Phase 3: test for delayed imitation

Answer 4

• Child enters the experimental room:
• Aggressive toys.
• Nonaggressive toys.
• Experimenter working quietly in the corner.
• Viewing mirror concealing 2 observers.
• Observer recorded child’s activity every 5 seconds i.e., it was time sampling.
• Observers not aware which exp. Group child was in.

Question 5

Bandura, Ross and Ross (1961)
Procedure:
Findings:

Answer 5

• Children who observed the aggressive model made far more imitative aggressive responses than those who were in the non-aggressive or control groups.
• Boys were more likely to imitate same-sex models than girls. The evidence for girls imitating same-sex models is not strong.
• Boys imitated more physically aggressive acts than girls. There was little difference in the verbal aggression between boys and girls.

Question 6

Evaluation: The Importance of Cognitive factors in Learning

Answer 6

Neither classical nor operant conditioning can offer an adequate account of learning on their own. SLT helps to give a more cognitive explanation.

Question 7

Evaluation: Over reliance on evidence from lab studies

Answer 7

• Bandura 1977
• Studied children in lab setting.
• Contrived? Danger of demand characteristics.
• Were children simply behaving in a way that was expected? Do they actually learn aggression in everyday life?

Question 8

Evaluation: Underestimates the influence of biological factors

Answer 8

• Bandura does not reference biological factors on social learning.
• Bobo dolls: boys often more aggressive than girls regardless of experimental situation.
• Hormonal factors: testosterone and aggression.