SP explanations for aggression: SLT

Question 1

What is the SLT?

Answer 1

• A way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct and indirect reinforcement combining learning theory with the role of cognitive factors

Question 2

How is aggression learnt directly according to Bandura?

Answer 2

• through operant and classical conditioning
• e.g. child snatches a toy of another child will learn that aggressive behaviour is rewarding
• makes it more likely that they’ll repeat aggressive act

Question 3

How is aggression learnt indirectly according to bandura?

Answer 3

• children & adults observe aggressive models (e.g. peers, media, siblings) and the consequences of their aggressive behaviour
• Vicarious reinforcement> if the models aggressive behaviour is rewarded the child learns that aggression is effective in getting what they want & are more likely to repeat behaviour
• Vicarious punishment

Question 4

What are the four conditions identified by Bandura needed for learning and explain?

Answer 4

• attention> basic cognitive requirement is that the observer must pay attention to the model’s aggressive actions
• Retention > observer also needs to remember models aggressive actions to form a mental representation of how behaviour is formed
• reproduction > observer must be able to transform a mental representation into physical action (evaluate ability)
• motivation > observer needs reason to initiate behaviour (reward)

Question 5

What is self-efficacy?

Answer 5

• the extent to which we believe our actions will achieve a desired goal
• e.g. child’s confidence in their ability to be aggressive increases as they learn it brings rewards
• self- efficacy develops with each successful outcome to achieve a goal

Question 6

What did Bandura find in his Bobo doll study?

Answer 6

• children imitated the behaviour they had seen performed by a model aggressively towards bobo doll without being instructed to

Question 7

What is a strength of SLT as an explanation for aggression?

Answer 7

• research to support
• Poulin & Boivin found that aggressive boys aged 9-12 formed friendships with other aggressive boys
• these friendships mutually reinforced each boys aggressive behaviour through modelling > they observed eachother successfully using proactive aggression
• exposed to aggressive models and its positive consequences
• SL processes made imitation of aggressive behaviour by boys more likely

Question 8

What is another strength of SLT as an explanation for aggression?

Answer 8

• real world app > can help reduce aggression
• children imitate models when they observe them being rewarded for any behaviour & especially when they identify with them
• one way to reduce aggression is to provide rewarded non-aggressive models e.g. encouraging children to form friendships with children rewarded for non aggression gives them more opportunities to model non- aggressive behaviour
• practical

Question 9

What is a limitation of SLT as an explanation for aggression?

Answer 9

• underestimates biological factors
• Bandura argues that the form aggression takes is primarily learned and is the outcome of nurture
• ignores powerful genetic, neural and hormonal influences on aggression e.g. testosterone
• SLT = incomplete explanation for aggression

Question 10

What is another limitation of SLT as an explanation for aggression?

Answer 10

• Evidence of aggression gathered through lab studies which are criticised for its contrived nature
• e.g. the bobo doll was designed to be hit > demand characteristics
• unlike real world situations as researchers create ideal learning situations which generally do not exist in reality
• may not tell us anything about human aggression