SLT AO3

• A strength is that there is supporting evidence. Boulin and Pouvin did social learning analysis to aggressive behaviour in boys aged 9-12. Found that most aggressive boys made friendships with other aggressive boys where they mutually reinforce the other's aggressive behaviour and were models to each other. This supports the role of SLT and vicarious reinforcement in aggressive behaviour.
• A limitation is that it fails to explain all types of aggression. There are two broad categories of aggression, reactive and proactive. Social learning theory explains proactive aggression as aggression is used to achieve goals and get benefits. However, reactive aggressive children use aggression to retaliate in the heat of the moment. This may be better explained by the negative effect theory. Other explanations may provide a more holistic view on aggression, while social learning theory can only explain proactive aggression.
• A strength is that there is real life application. Theory has led to ways we can reduce aggression by breaking the cycle in which individuals become more aggressive. Encouraging aggressive children to form friendships with children and adults who do not habitually behave more aggressively gives them more opportunities to model non aggressive behaviour. This shows how SLT can benefit society.