Bandura original Bobo doll experiment (1961)

What was Bandura's aim?

Whether aggressive behaviour could be acquired through observation of aggressive models

What were Bandura's specific aims?

Whether kids were more likely to aggress having observed aggression, whether they selectively imitated same sex models, if boys were more prone overall to acquiring aggressive behaviour

What was the design of the laboratory experiment?

Matched pairs design

How many boys and girls were selected from the Stanford University Nursery, and how old were they?

36 girls and 36 boys aged between 3 and 6

What was the dependent variable?

Aggression the children displayed

What was the independent variable?

Modelling of aggression, sex of model and observer

What was the aggression group?

Observed an aggressive adult model punching, kicking and shouting at a large inflatable Bobo doll

What was the non-aggression group?

Non-aggressive model assembling mechanical toys

What was the control group?

No model was present whilst children were playing

What was step 1?

The children were brought into a room with an observation window present and allowed to play with toys

What was step 2?

The children were then taken to another room where all children were frustrated by being shown new shiny toys that weren't for them (gives them urge to be aggressive later)

What was step 3?

Children taken into a playroom containing a range of toys and an inflatable Bobo doll

What is imitative aggression?

Sitting in Bobo and behaving aggressively

What is partially imitative aggression?

Using a mallet aggressively on toys other than the Bobo doll

What is non-imitative aggression?

Punching bobo, saying aggressive things not said by model

What were the findings?

Children who witnessed aggressive model were likely to imitate behaviour

For the children who hadn't observed any aggression, how many then displayed no aggression at all?

70%

What made boys more likely to imitate aggression?

Observing it in a same sex model

What was the conclusion?

Social behaviour such as aggression can be acquired by imitation of models and is more likely when the model is gender typical and the same sex as observer

What features reduced the impact of extraneous variables, increasing internal validity?

Children taking part were matched for aggression

How was spontaneous aggression controlled for?

Non-aggressive conditions

What controlled for conformity effects?

Observing children one at a time

What does the high degree of control mean we can be reasonably sure of?

The observed aggression was the result of imitation of the aggressive model

What weakens the ecological validity?

Laboratory and situation that measured aggression is different to a typical situation where a child may be aggressive towards a person

Are the results generalisable?

External validity is reduced so we can't be sure to what extent

Comment on the application.

Explains how children can acquire aggressive behaviour from adult models (parents) so psychologists and social workers now have a better understanding of developmental risks to children from violent parents