Social learning theory

• Aggression may be learned in a social context through observing a role model acting aggressively and then imitating it depending on meditational process they go through.
• Bandura claimed that we are more likely to imitate someone we identify with.

  For example same gender, same age etc
• Mediational factors affect whether or not an aggressive behaviour is imitated. These include:

  • Attention - actually watching the behaviour and being present
  • Retention - remembering what happened
  • Reproduction - feeling capable of carrying out the behaviour
  • Motivation - gaining approval or a reward
• We are more likely to copy a role model if we see the role model being rewarded for their behaviour known as vicarious reinforcement
• If a role model's aggressive behaviour is punished we are less likely to copy it
• A factor that affects whether a child will continue to display the aggressive behaviour or not is if they develop self efficacy

  Self efficacy - the confidence in their ability to carry out the actions

  If they imitate a behaviour and were successful like developing the desired effect, then they will develop self efficacy.

  If the person was not to successful then they won't develop self efficacy and won't do it again
• AO3 - bobo doll

  Bandura bobo doll provides empirical support for the SLT explanation of aggression as they suggest that children can learn aggression through observation and imitation of role models.

  However the bobo doll does not hit back unlike humans in real life suggesting bobo doll studies do not tell us about imitation of aggression in real life
• AO3 - real life studies

  Gee and Leith analysed penalty records from hockey games. They found that North American ice hockey players were more aggressive than player from Europe. This was consistent with their beliefs that when they were young the North American players were more likely exposed to aggressive role models and less likely to be punished .

  Supports SLT as it claims that aggression can be acquired through seeing the consequences of other peoples behaviours