Social Learning Explanation of Aggression

• How do children acquire specific aggressive behaviours?

  Through observing aggressive models
• Does learning about aggressive behaviour guarantee a child will act aggressively?

  No, it does not guarantee aggressive actions
• What do children observe in addition to aggressive behaviour?

  The consequences of their behaviour
• What is Vicarious Reinforcement?

  Observing others receiving rewards motivates imitation
• What is Vicarious Punishment?

  Observing others being punished deters imitation
• What are the 4 Mediational Processes in Social Learning Theory?

  1. Attention - noticing the behaviour
  2. Retention - remembering the behaviour
  3. Reproduction - ability to reproduce the behaviour
  4. Motivation - will to replicate the behaviour
• What does self-efficacy refer to in the context of aggression?

  The belief in achieving a desired goal
• How does a child's confidence in aggression develop?

  Through learning that aggression can bring rewards
• What was the aim of Bandura et al (1961)?

  To examine the effect of model's sex
• Describe the procedure used in Bandura et al (1961) study.

  • 8 experimental groups with 36 girls and 36 boys
  • Groups observed same-sex or opposite-sex role models
  • Half observed aggressive, half non-aggressive models
  • Participants observed role models for 10 minutes
  • Later allowed to play with toys, including a Bobo Doll
  • Observed for 20 minutes during play
• What did participants observe with the aggressive role model?

  Hitting the Bobo Doll and shouting abuse
• What were the findings regarding children who observed aggressive behaviour?

  They were more likely to be aggressive
• Which gender was found to be more physically aggressive?

  Boys were more physically aggressive
• Was there a difference in levels of verbal aggression between genders?

  No difference in levels of verbal aggression
• Who were children more likely to imitate in their behaviour?

  The behaviour of the same-sex role model
• What are the real-world applications of Social Learning Theory?

  • Children imitate rewarded models
  • Providing rewarded non-aggressive models can reduce aggression
  • Offers practical steps to mitigate aggressive behaviour
• What did Poulin & Boivin (2000) find about aggressive boys?

  They formed friendships that reinforced aggression
• How did aggressive boys reinforce each other's behaviour?

  Through modelling and positive consequences
• What is Reactive Aggression characterized by?

  It is unpredictable in nature
• What did Poulin & Boivin (2000) find about friends and reactive aggression?

  Friends did not influence reactive aggression
• What are the limitations of Social Learning Theory regarding aggression?

  • Weak explanation for reactive aggression
  • Underplays biological influences on aggression
  • Fails to acknowledge genetic and hormonal factors
• How did Bandura view the role of biology in aggression?

  He recognized biology's instinctive role
• What does Social Learning Theory underplay in its explanation of aggression?

  The role of biological factors
• What is a limitation for the SLT Explanation of Aggression?

  Biological Influences

  • Bandura recognised the role of biology because he accepted that the urge to be aggressive is instinctive in nature, but was equally clear that the form aggression takes is primarily learned and is the outcome of nurture
  • However, it is well established that there are genetic, evolutionary, neural and hormonal influences on aggression, which Social Learning Theory barely acknowledges
  • Therefore, Social Learning Theory is an incomplete explanation of aggression because it underplays the role of biological factors
• What is a limitation for the SLT Explanation of Aggression?

  Reactive Aggression is Unpredictable

  • However, Poulin & Boivin (2000) did not find any similarity between friends for reactive aggression
  • The researchers found that the boys were less likely to influence each other’s reactive aggressive outbursts, which may be because the consequences of reactive aggression are unpredictable
  • Therefore, Social Learning Theory is limited because it is a relatively weak explanation of reactive aggression
• What is a strength for the SLT Explanation of Aggression?

  Research Support

  • Poulin & Boivin (2000) found that aggressive boys between 9 - 12 years old formed friendships with other aggressive boys, which mutually reinforced each other’s aggressive behaviour through modelling
  • This means they were exposed frequently to models of physical aggression and to its positive consequences through proactive aggression
  • These social learning processes made imitation of aggressive behaviour by the boys much more likely, as predicted by Social Learning Theory
• What is a strength for the SLT Explanation of Aggression?

  Real World Application

  • Children readily imitate models when they observe them being rewarded, which also applies to modelling aggressive behaviour
  • One way to reduce aggression is to provide rewarded non-aggressive models, as the same learning processes can produce non-aggression
  • Therefore, Social Learning Theory offers practical steps to reduce the development of aggressive behaviour in children