social learning theory

• P: early research on social learning relied heavily on the sort of experimental study carried out by Bandura. However, there are methodological problems with the bobo doll studies

  E: a doll is not a living person and does not retaliate when hit. this raises questions about whether these studies tell us much about the imitation of aggression towards other human beings
• link for lack of realism

  L: bandura responded to this criticism by having children watch a film of an adult model hitting a live clown. the children later proceeded to imitate the same aggressive behaviours they had seen in the film, suggesting the imitation of aggressive behaviour is also likely towards other human beings
• P: a strength of this theory is that it can explain inconsistencies in an individual's use of aggressive behaviour

  E: a young male may behave aggressively when out with friends, but not respond in the same way when at school or at work. SLT would explain this difference in terms of the consequences of acting aggressively in the two situations. when out with friends, acts of aggression may be more likely to receive positive consequences, whereas positive consequences of aggressive behaviour would be less likely in school or at work.
• link for inconsistencies

  L: this means that we can predict whether or not aggression is likely in a particular situation by knowing its likely consequences
• P: SLT can be used to explain cultural differences in aggression

  E: Among the IKung San of the Kalahari desert, aggression is comparitively rare. this is due to their child rearing practices. when children argue or fight, parents neither reward nor punish them, but physically separate them and try to distract their attention on to other things.

  L: consequently, the absence of direct reinforcement of aggressive behaviour and the absence of aggressive models means there is little opportunity for motivation for IKung San children to acquire aggressive behaviours through social learning