Bandura

Outline social learning theory

Learning through observation and imitation

What is the aim of Bandura’s experiment?

To investigate how learning can occur through mere observation and imitation of the behaviour of the model and how this can also occur outside of their presence

What is the background for this study?

• Social learning theory- learning through observation and imitation

• Behaviourists argue all behaviour can be explained in terms of learning from one’s environment

• It assumes we are all born as a blank slate and our experiences shape who we are

What is the research method and design for this study?

• Independent measures design/matched pairs design

• Lab experiment

What are the independent and dependent variables in this experiment?

• IV- Model is aggressive or not aggressive

  • Also others like the sex of the model and the sex of the child

• DV- Amount of imitative behaviour and aggression shown

What is the sample for this study?

• 72 Children

• 36 boys, 36 girls

• 37-69 months (3-5 years old)

• Stanford University nursery school (USA, middle-upper class)

What are the hypotheses for this experiment?

• Children shown aggression will show more imitative aggression

• Children who are shown docile behaviour will remain docile

• Boys will show more imitative aggression than girls

• Children imitate same-sex behaviour more than opposite-sex

How were participants matched?

• Matched on a rating scale between two observers, experimenter and nursery school teacher

• Scales measured the extent to how much a child displayed physical and verbal aggression towards inanimate object and aggressive inhibition

What happened in phase 1 of the procedure? (modelling phase)

• Children taken to a room and sat down to plat

• Aggressive model assembles a tinker toy set but after physically and verbally aggresses a bobo doll for the remained of the period

• Verbal aggression- “Pow” and “Sock him in the nose”

• Physical aggression- "punching, sitting on the bobo doll, struck with mallet

• Non-aggressive model assembled the tinker toys in a quiet, subdued manner and ignored the bobo doll

• A control group did not take part in the modelling phase

• This phase lasted for 10 minutes

What happened in phase 2 of the procedure? (Arousal phase)

• Children taken to an anteroom and were allowed to play with some attractive toys

• After 2 minutes the toys were taken away with an experimenter saying that they had been reserved for other children but they could play with the toys in the next room

What happened in phase 3 of the procedure? (Testing for delayed imitation)

• Children take to a room containing aggressive and non-aggressive toys

• Aggressive objects included the 3ft bobo doll, a mallet, dart guns

• Non-aggressive toys included a tea set, cars and dolls

• Children were watched through a one way mirror as behaviour (set into behavioural categories) was recorded:

  • Imitative aggression (physical and verbal)

  • Partially imitative aggression

  • Non-imitative aggression (physical and verbal)

  • Non-aggressive behaviour

• This phase lasted for 20 minutes

  • This was divided into 5 second intervals for 240 responses were made for each participant

What were the results of this study?

• Children in the aggressive condition showed more aggressive responses (13.7) compared to children in the non-aggressive model condition (6.7)

• Boys had more aggressive responses across all conditions (14.1) than girls (6.3)

What conclusions can be drawn from this study?

• Observation and imitation are important influences on behaviour- social learning theory

• Boys tend to be more aggressive than girls- societal norms

How does Bandura’s study relate to the developmental area?

• The developmental area suggest behaviour and thinking develops over the lifespan and may be in response to nature and nurture influences

• Bandura investigated the effect of aggressive, non-aggressive models on children’s aggressive behaviour.

• He found that when observed through a one way mirror, p’s who observed an aggressive role model showed more aggressive responses (13.7) than those who observed a non-aggressive model (6.7) and no model

• This suggests that nurture influences such as role models hugely affect the development of aggressive behaviour in children

How does Bandura’s study relate to the key theme of external influences?

• External influences refers to factors such as environment, upbringing and role models

• Bandura investigated the effect of aggressive, non-aggressive models on children’s aggressive behaviour.

• He found that when observed through a wone way mirror, p’s who observed an aggressive role model showed more aggressive responses (13.7) than those who observed a non-aggressive model (6.7) and no model

• This shows that role models act as external influences on children’s behaviour