Social Psychological Explanations

• How is aggression learned according to Social Learning Theory?

  Through observation and imitation of aggressive behaviors
• What factors increase the likelihood of a behavior being copied?

  If the model is similar or in power
• What is vicarious reinforcement in Social Learning Theory?

  Observing the consequences of others' behaviors
• What happens if a model's behavior is rewarded?

  Aggression is learned to be effective
• What occurs if a model's behavior is punished?

  The behavior is less likely to be mirrored
• What are the mediating processes in Social Learning Theory?

  Attention, motivation, retention, reproduction
• What must an observer do to pay attention to behavior being modeled?

  Focus on the behavior of the model
• Why is motivation important in Social Learning Theory?

  To have a reason to imitate the behavior
• What does retention refer to in the context of Social Learning Theory?

  Remembering the behavior that has been modeled
• What does reproduction mean in Social Learning Theory?

  Being physically capable of performing the behavior
• What was the procedure of Bandura et al's study?

  • 66 nursery school children divided into 3 groups
  • All watched a film of an adult model kicking and punching a Bobo doll
  • Aggressive comments included "Pow, right on the nose, boom boom"
  • Group 1: Film ended after aggressive behavior, no consequences
  • Group 2: Additional scene where the aggressive model was punished
  • Group 3: Aggressive model punished by a second adult
• What was the tendency observed in Conditions 1 and 2?

  Children showed spontaneous, imitative aggressive acts
• Which group behaved more aggressively according to the results?

  Children in Condition 2 behaved more aggressively
• Which group remained the least aggressive?

  Group 3
• What are the methodological problems identified in Bandura et al's study?

  • Aggression relies heavily on experimental evidence
  • Bobo doll is not a living person
  • Bobo doll cannot retaliate when hit
• Why is the Bobo doll considered a limitation in the study?

  It cannot retaliate when hit
• What type of comments did the adult model make during the film?

  Aggressive comments like "Pow, right on the nose"
• How did the presence of consequences affect children's behavior in the study?

  Consequences influenced the level of aggression shown
• What did Powin & Bravial find about aggressive boys?

  They received reinforcement from surrounding approval
• What is reactive aggression?

  Angry retaliation in the heat of the moment
• Why is reactive aggression less likely to influence social learning theory?

  It occurs spontaneously, not through learned behavior
• How does social learning theory (SLT) help reduce aggression?

  • Provides practical steps for behavior modification
  • Encourages positive reinforcement from peers
  • Aims to change aggressive behaviors through learning
• What does Bandura acknowledge about aggression?

  It is learned and a result of nurture
• What are some biological factors that SLT ignores?

  Genetic, hormonal, and neural influences
• Why is SLT considered an incomplete explanation of aggression?

  It overlooks biological explanations of behavior
• What is a problem with Bandura's research regarding SLT processes?

  Control creates ideal testing conditions
• How do ideal testing conditions affect the support for SLT?

  They may not reflect real-life situations