Social psychological explanations of aggression: Social learning theory

Question 1

Social learning theory

Answer 1

Bandura
-Aggression can be learned directly through operant conditioning (e.g child snatches toy= learns aggression is rewarding)
-HOWEVER mostly learned through observational learning

Question 2

Observational learning and vicarious reinforcement

Answer 2

-Observe aggressive models but consequences determine whether will imitate
-e.g if model’s behaviour rewarded child will imitate/if punished= less likely
(Vicarious reinforcement)

Question 3

Cognitive conditions for learning

Answer 3

Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation (vicarious reinforcement)

Question 4

Self-efficacy

Answer 4

-Extent to which we believe our actions will achieve a desired goal
-Child’s confidence in ability to be aggressive grows with each successful outcome (e.g regularly snatching toys= rewarded= becomes easier to do and learns aggression works and they are good at it)

Question 5

Bobo doll study (Bandura)

Answer 5

-Children observed adults assaulting bobo doll
-Not allowed to play with toys= frustration
-Then taken to room with bobo doll

=Closely imitated same aggression
-Children who observed non-aggressive interaction= aggression non-existent

Question 6

Strength of SLT

Answer 6

Research support
-Poulin/Boivin found aggressive boys hung out with other aggressive boys as behaviour mutually reinforced through modelling
-E.g would observe 1 boy rewarded as stole from other child/rewarded with approval from other boys

These SL processes made imitation of aggressive behaviour much more likely as predicted by SLT

Question 7

Counterpoint to research support

Answer 7

Poulin/Boivin found boys much less likely to influence/imitate eachothers’ reactive aggression
-Likely as consequences unpredictable unlike proactive

=SLT limited as relatively weak explanation of reactive aggression

Question 8

Strength 2 of SLT (Real-world application)

Answer 8

Can help- aggression in children by providing non-aggressive models/encouraging to be friends with children rewarded for non-aggression
=More opportunities to model non-aggressive behaviour

So SLT offers practical steps to - the development of aggressive behaviour in children

Question 9

Weakness of SLT

Answer 9

Underestimates biological factors
-e.g Bandura said aggression primarily learned/outcome of nurture but powerful genetic/evolutionary/neural/hormonal influences
-SLT barely acknowledges/doesn’t explain= incomplete explanation