social psych explanations - SLT Flashcards
who proposed the social learning theory?
Bandura
4 things to remember for SLT expl. for aggression
- indirect + direct learning (vic. reinforcement/ punishment)
- four mediational processes
- self efficacy
- bobo doll
what are Bandura’s key assumptions of SLT for aggression?
- suggests that all behaviour is learnt
- theory doesn’t deny biology as a role in aggression, but suggests that learning is the most important factor
what are the 2 ways behaviour can be learnt?
- direct learning
- indirect learning
what is direct learning?
we can learn directly, through operant conditioning, to be aggressive
- if a child isn’t punished for being aggressive, there is an increased likelihood of repetition of aggressive behaviour (lack of consequences)
what is indirect learning?
children can also learn, through operant conditioning, by watching the behaviour of others and their actions
- learning through observing punishment (vicarious punishment)
- learning through rewards (vicarious reinforcement)
- if a child sees aggressive behaviour rewarded = increase in repetition
- if a child sees aggressive behaviour punished = decrease in repetition
what is needed for observational learning to take place?
4 mediational processes (cognitive conditions)
what are the 4 mediational processes?
- attention
- retention
- reproduction
- motivation
what is attention?
observer has to pay attention to the aggressive model
what is retention?
observer needs to remember the aggressive behaviour, and form a mental representation of how behaviour was performed
what is reproduction?
observer needs to be able to translate the action (physical capability)
what is motivation?
observer needs to have the will to perform the action
what is the process of identification?
role models are likely to have desirable characteristics
- popularity (social status)
- same gender as observer
what is self-efficacy?
each time a child is rewarded for aggressive behaviour, they become confident that aggression works
how does self-efficacy lead to increased aggressive behaviour?
increases confidence that aggression is the right course of action to achieve their desired goal
what research by Bandura supports this explanation?
Bandura’s bobo doll study
outline the procedure of Bandura’s bobo doll
children aged 3-6 were observed when interacting with a bobo doll
beforehand, divided into 3 conditions and watched an adult role model interact with the bobo doll
- condition 1: ppt’s watched an aggressive model
- condition 2: ppt’s watched a non-aggressive model
- condition 3: no model was shown (control)
outline the findings of Bandura’s bobo doll
- children who observed an aggressive model: showed a lot of verbal and physical aggression, that resembled the model
- non-aggressive model: very little aggressive behaviour
- control: 70% scored 0 for aggressive behaviour
evaluation: supporting research (Poulin and Boivin)
ID: a strength of SLT as an explanation for aggression is that there is research to support
Q: Poulin and Boivin applied social learning theory to aggressive behaviour in boys
EV: for example, they found that the most aggressive boys formed friendship groups (cliques), which acted as training grounds for aggressive and anti-social behaviour. within cliques, aggression was viewed positively (rewards) and used to gain resources, this acted as vicarious reinforcement
AN: therefore, this supports the concept of self-efficacy for explaining aggression as when aggression is praised it is continued. this increases the credibility and practical application of SLT
evaluation: SLT cannot explain all aggression
ID: however, a limitation of SLT as an explanation for aggression is that it cannot explain all types of aggression
Q: SLT can effectively explain proactive aggression, however, it is less applicable for explaining reactive aggression.
EV: for example, it can be applied to cold-blooded and calculated aggression which leads to benefits, but it cannot explain angry, heat-of-the-moment aggression e.g. retaliation, which has few benefits.
AN: this is a limitation because SLT may not be successfully applied to all cases of aggression, limiting its overall use. decreasing the external validity of the theory.
evaluation: practical applications
ID: despite this, aggression has had practical applications in the media
Q: if aggression is learned through observation and imitation of role models, then aggressive behaviour can be reduced by altering media
EV: for example, SLT suggests that aggression in the media could have substantial impacts on real-life aggression, especially if aggressive behaviour is seen as being rewarded and the viewer identifies with the character.
AN: this is a strength of SLT as it provides support for the explanation of self-efficacy. therefore, it could lead to more age restrictions placed on films and media restrictions to prevent aggressive behaviour
