Social psychological explanations Flashcards
How can aggression be learned directly?
Through operant conditioning
Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment
How can aggression be learned indirectly?
Through observational learning, by watching and imitating others.
How is aggression learned through observational learning?
By watching aggressive role models and the consequences of their actions.
What is vicarious reinforcement?
If a role model’s aggressive behavior is rewarded, the observer is more likely to imitate it.
What is vicarious punishment?
If a role model’s aggressive behavior is punished, the observer is less likely to imitate it.
What are the four cognitive conditions needed to learn aggression?
Attention
Must focus on the model’s aggressive action.
Retention
Must remember the model’s aggression.
Reproduction
Must be physically able to replicate the aggression.
Motivation
Must have a reason to imitate aggression.
What is self-efficacy?
The belief in one’s ability to succeed in a specific action.
How does self-efficacy relate to aggression?
A child gains confidence in aggression when they successfully use it to get what they want.
Their sense of self-efficacy grows as aggression brings rewards.
What did Bandura’s experiment involve?
Children watched an adult model attack a Bobo doll before experiencing frustration.
They were then placed in a room with a Bobo doll and other toys.
What were Bandura’s findings?
Many children directly copied the model’s aggressive behavior, both physically and verbally.
Boys were more likely than girls to imitate a same-sex aggressive model.
Children who watched a non-aggressive model did not behave aggressively.
What do Bandura’s findings suggest?
Aggression is learned through observation and is influenced by role models.
Imitation is strongest when the model is similar (same sex) or aggression is seen as rewarding.
