Social Psychological Explanations of Aggression: Social Learning Theory

Question 1

Outline direct & indirect learning

Answer 1

Bandura acknowledged aggression can be learned directly, through reinforcement & punishment
DL - Child angrily snatches toy off another child will learn aggressive behaviour = rewarding
Direct reinforcement makes it more likely child will behave aggressively again in similar situation

Bandura also realised aggressive behaviour often can’t be explained by direct forms of learning, esp in humans, so he argued observational learning (indirect mechanism) accounts for social learning of most aggressive behaviours

Question 2

Outline observational learning & vicarious reinforcement as a social psychological explanation for aggression

Answer 2

Kids acquire specific aggressive behaviours by observing aggressive models, e.g. parents
Kid learns about aggression but observe consequences of it to decide if they behave aggressively
If model’s aggressive behaviour rewarded, then kid learns aggression can be effective to get what they want - vicarious reinforcement, increasing chance kid imitates model’s behaviour

Question 3

Outline the cognitive conditions needed for learning

Answer 3

Attention - Observer must pay attention to model’s aggressive actions
Retention - Observer must be able to remember model’s aggressive actions to form symbolic mental representation of how behaviour performed
Reproduction - Observer must be able to transform mental representation of aggressive behaviour into actual physical action, involving mentally appraising their ability to do this
Motivation - Observer needs reason to imitate behaviour, depending on expectations that behaving aggressively in specific situation will be rewarding

Question 4

Outline self-efficacy

Answer 4

Extent to which we believe our actions will achieve desired goal
Kid’s confidence in ability to be aggressive grows as they learn aggression brings reward

Question 5

Outline research into social learning theory as a social psychological explanation of aggression

Answer 5

Kids observing adult model assaulting Bobo doll
Aggressive behaviours = throwing, kicking, mallet hit & verbal outbursts like “sock him in the nose”
Then short period where kids no allowed to play with some attractive toys, creating frustration
Taken to another room where there was Bobo doll & other toys adult model used

Without being instructed to, many kids imitated behaviour by model, physically & verbally
Closeness of imitation was remarkable in some cases, virtually direct copy of what kids observed, like use of specific objects & verbal phrases
Boys imitated physical aggression > girls, but no difference in verbal aggression
Boys more likely to imitate same-sex model
Other group of kids who observed adult interacting non-aggressively with doll - aggressive behaviour almost non-existent

Question 6

Evaluate the social learning theory as a social psychological explanation for aggression

Answer 6

Strength - RESEARCH
E.g. - Poulin & Boivin (2000) found aggressive boys 9-12 formed friendships with other aggressive boys. Friendships mutually reinforced each boy’s aggressive behaviour through modelling, e.g. boys observe each other successfully using proactive aggression to get what they want, providing reinforcement
Ex. - Social leaning processes made imitation of aggressive behaviour by boys more likely, as predicted by SLT

Strength - REAL-WORLD APPLICATION - can help reduce aggression
E.g. - Reduce aggression by providing rewarded non-aggressive models, same learning process producing aggression can produce non-aggression. Encourage kids to form friendships with kids rewarded for non-aggression gives them chance to model behaviour.
Ex. - SLT offers practical steps to reduce development of aggressive behaviour in kids

Limitation - UNDERESTIMATES INFLUENCE OF BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCES
E.g. - Bandura recognised role of biology as he accepted there’s an instinctive urge to be aggressive
He’s equally clear that form aggression takes is primarily learned & outcome of ‘nature’
However, it’s well established there’s genetic, evo, neural & hormonal influences on aggression
SLT barely acknowledges them & doesn’t explain them
Ex. - Thus, SLT incomplete explanation of aggression as it underplays role of bio factors