Bandura et al (1961) - ALL BOBO Doll

What psychology is being studied in Bandura et al. (1961)?

Social Learning Theory and Reciprocal Triadic Determinism. Learning through observation and imitation.

What is the background to Bandura et al. (1961)?

Children imitate adult behavior, especially in social settings. Bandura aimed to test this idea through aggression modeling.

What was the aim of Bandura et al. (1961)?

To investigate if children learn aggression by observing a model and if the model's gender affects this.

What was the method and design used in Bandura et al. (1961)?

Lab experiment, independent and matched pairs design, using controlled observation.

Who were the participants in Bandura et al. (1961)?

72 children (36 boys, 36 girls) aged 3-6 from Stanford Nursery. Opportunity sample.

What was the procedure of Bandura et al. (1961)?

Children watched a model behave aggressively/non-aggressively or saw no model. Then observed in a room with toys (mallet, tinkeroty set) and Bobo doll.

What were the results of Bandura et al. (1961)?

Children exposed to aggressive models imitated more aggression. Boys more physical (avg. 25.8), girls more verbal.

What were the conclusions of Bandura et al. (1961)?

Aggressive behavior is learned through observation. Boys imitate same-sex models more. No reinforcement needed.

What ethical issues were raised in Bandura et al. (1961)?

No informed consent, potential psychological harm, no debriefing, limited right to withdraw.

Evaluate the methodology of Bandura et al. (1961)

Strengths: High control and reliability. Weaknesses: Low generalisability, ecological validity, ethical concerns.

How does Bandura et al. (1961) relate to debates in psychology?

Nature vs Nurture: both seen. Situational vs Individual: both. Snapshot, reductionist, deterministic.

What was the value in relation to sex of the model and child?

Boys with male models: 25.8 imitative aggression. Girls with female model: 5.5.