Social learning theory

• Supporting evidence

  Bandura (1961)- found significantly more aggressive play if the children had observed an aggressive adult.
• Practical applications

  • Parenting programmes have been developed to reduce aggression in children using knowledge gained from social learning theory. 
  • This involves parents displaying prosocial behaviours to be modelled rather than aggressive behaviour and regulating exposure to aggressive media.
• However point for Bandura's study

  Lacks ecological validity.
• Contradictory evidence

  • Higher concordance rates found in MZ twins : Coccaro et al. (1997). 
  • The MAOA ‘warrior’ gene has been linked to aggression: Brunner et al. (1993) / Caspi et al. (2002).
• Other explanations

  Hormonal explanations- as Bandura found that boys were more likley to be aggressive compared to girls.
• Issues and debates

  Nurture