Social Learning Theory of aggression Flashcards
As always, who is the mind behing the SLT of aggression
Bandura and Walters
What are the key points of SLT that apply here
Modelling, identfication, vicarious reinforcement, ability to replicate behaviour, mental representation and maintainance through direct expereince
What is mental representation
In order for SLT to take place the child must form mental representations of events in their social environment, such as representing possible rewards and punishments for aggressive behaviours in the form of expectancies of future outcomes. The child will display learned behaviour so long as the expectation of reward is greater than expectation of punishment
What is “the script”
A cognitive shema, where children learn rules from conduct of those around them. This is internalised and once established in childhood this can make aggressive behaviour a way of life
What is maintainance through direct experience
If a child is rewarded for a behaviour (aggression) he or she is likely to repeat the same action in similar situations in the future
Key points of the Bobo doll experiment to be used in SLT for aggression
-Half aggressive/ Half non-aggressive model
-Fustrated with toys
-Aggressive model had good deal of physical and verbal aggressive behaviour
-1/3 of aggressive children repeated models verbal responses
-Boys produced more imitative physical aggression than girls, but they did not differ in imitation of verbal aggression
What is a methodological issue with the Bobo doll study (eval)
A doll is not a real person, and does not retaliate. This raises questions over whether this study tells us much relevant to real imitation of aggression to human beings. Bandura responded by having kids watch a film of an adult model hitting a live clown. The children imitated this, showing that imitation is likely on humans (and clowns)
What is research support for the SLT of aggression (eval)
Gee and Leith sudied Ice Hockey players, analysing penalty records from 200 games of North America’s main ice hockey league, filled with people of many nationalities. They beleived that American players would have been exposed to aggressive models on tv when young and less likey to be punished for aggressive play than european players. In line woth this, Gee and Leith found players from america were more likely to be penalised for aggressive play than players born in other countries
Who studied SLT in ice hockey players
Gee and Leith
How can SLT explain cultural differences in aggression (eval)
Among the !Kung San of the Kalahari Desert, aggression is relatively rare, in part due to child rearing practises. When children argue or fight, parents neither reward or punish them, but simply seperate them and try to distract them. They don’t use physical punishment, and aggressive postures are avoided by adults and devalued in the society as a whole. This leaves little opportunity for the learning of aggressive behaviour
What group has remarkably low aggression
The !Kung San of the Kalahari Desert (yes the ! is there on purpose I don’t know)
What are the consequences of social learning (eval)
The American Psychological Association beleives that if aggression can be learned in this way, it can be modified. The ACT against violence program sponsored by the APA aims to educate parents on the dangers of providing possible aggressive role models and to seek out more positive ones. It was found that the programe increased positive parenting and the discontinuation of physical punishment
