social psych explanations - SLT

Question 1

who proposed the social learning theory?

Answer 1

Bandura

Question 2

4 things to remember for SLT expl. for aggression

Answer 2

1. indirect + direct learning (vic. reinforcement/ punishment)
2. four mediational processes
3. self efficacy
4. bobo doll

Question 3

what are Bandura’s key assumptions of SLT for aggression?

Answer 3

• 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

Question 4

what are the 2 ways behaviour can be learnt?

Answer 4

• direct learning
• indirect learning

Question 5

what is direct learning?

Answer 5

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)

Question 6

what is indirect learning?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

what is needed for observational learning to take place?

Answer 7

4 mediational processes (cognitive conditions)

Question 8

what are the 4 mediational processes?

Answer 8

1. attention
2. retention
3. reproduction
4. motivation

Question 9

what is attention?

Answer 9

observer has to pay attention to the aggressive model

Question 10

what is retention?

Answer 10

observer needs to remember the aggressive behaviour, and form a mental representation of how behaviour was performed

Question 11

what is reproduction?

Answer 11

observer needs to be able to translate the action (physical capability)

Question 12

what is motivation?

Answer 12

observer needs to have the will to perform the action

Question 13

what is the process of identification?

Answer 13

role models are likely to have desirable characteristics
- popularity (social status)
- same gender as observer

Question 14

what is self-efficacy?

Answer 14

each time a child is rewarded for aggressive behaviour, they become confident that aggression works

Question 15

how does self-efficacy lead to increased aggressive behaviour?

Answer 15

increases confidence that aggression is the right course of action to achieve their desired goal

Question 16

what research by Bandura supports this explanation?

Answer 16

Bandura’s bobo doll study

Question 17

outline the procedure of Bandura’s bobo doll

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

outline the findings of Bandura’s bobo doll

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

evaluation: supporting research (Poulin and Boivin)

Answer 19

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

Question 20

evaluation: SLT cannot explain all aggression

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

evaluation: practical applications

Answer 21

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