Bandura's Study on Observational Learning

Flashcards summarizing key concepts from Bandura's study on observational learning and aggression.

What is observational learning?

Learning behavior by imitating others.

What year was Bandura's study on aggression conducted?

1961

What are the four stages involved in observational learning according to Bandura?

Attention, Retention, Reproduction, Motivation.

Which behavior is closely associated with masculinity in children, according to Bandura's study?

Aggression.

What does vicarious reinforcement mean in Bandura's theory?

Observers are more likely to imitate behavior if they see the role model rewarded for it.

What are the three types of aggression measured in Bandura's study?

Imitative aggression, partially imitative aggression, non-imitative aggression.

How many participants were involved in Bandura's study?

72 participants.

What was the mean age of participants in Bandura's study?

52 months (4 years and 4 months).

What research design was used in Bandura's study?

Matched pairs design.

What was one feature of the sample in Bandura's study?

36 male and 36 female participants.

What were the children exposed to in the 'aggressive' condition of the study?

An adult demonstrating aggression towards a Bobo doll.

What were the children allowed to play with after being annoyed in the aggression arousal stage?

Attractive toys for around two minutes.

What significant gender difference was found in the study's results?

Boys were more likely to imitate physical aggression, while girls were more verbally aggressive.

What does 'imitation of physical aggression' involve according to the study's observations?

Behaviors like hitting or kicking the Bobo doll.

What is one ethical concern raised about Bandura's study?

Children were exposed to aggressive behavior, which could have psychological effects.

Which approach does Bandura's study belong to?

Learning approach.

What is a weakness related to ecological validity in Bandura's study?

The artificial lab setting may not reflect real-life situations.

In Bandura's study, how was aggression among children rated?

Using a scale from 0 to 5 by trained observers and nursery teachers.

What might happen if a model is punished for their behavior, according to Bandura?

Observants may be less likely to imitate the punished behavior.

What qualitative data was missing from Bandura's study?

There were no comments or explanations for why children acted the way they did.

What does 'mundane realism' refer to in the context of Bandura's study?

The extent to which the study tasks reflect everyday activities.

What was one of the aims of Bandura's study?

To investigate if children would reproduce aggressive behavior without the model present.

In Bandura's study, what was the impact on control group children?

They displayed very little aggression, similar to those in the non-aggressive condition.

Why were controls considered high in Bandura's study?

Standard procedures were followed for timing, toys, and model behaviors.

What did observers assess during the testing for delayed imitation stage?

Children's play behavior for the next 20 minutes.

What contribution to psychology does Bandura's study provide?

Evidence for Social Learning Theory through observational learning.

What conclusion can be drawn about same-sex model imitation in children from Bandura's study?

Children tend to selectively imitate behaviors from same-sex models.