SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

• SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY?

  • Bandura
  • behaviour is learned by reinforcement of direct experiences and imitation of aggressive role models
  • or may see aggressive behaviour in the media/ at school/ at home
  • so learned via indirect interaction with the social world (vicarious reinforcement)
  • aggressive behaviour only exhibited after learning consequences and mediational processes
• EVALUATION?

  + Bandura

  + Bandura and Walters

  + Phillips

  + real world application

  -Christianson

  -Dabbs et al
• BANDURA?

  Bobo dolls
• BANDURA AND WALTERS?

  • children observed adults
  • either being rewarded/ punished or neither for aggressive behaviour
  • if rewarded, children exhibited highest levels of aggression
  • if punished, lowest levels
  • if neither, level between both
  • importance of vicarious reinforcement
• PHILLIPS?

  • homicide rates in USA
  • 12.4% increase after boxing match televised
  • murder victims similar age and race to loser of boxing match
• REAL WORLD APPLICATION?

  • TV ratings
  • new 15 rating put in in 1980s
  • following Bandura's research
• CHRISTIANSON?

  • Kung San people in Kalahari Desert
  • aggression was rare
  • parents did not physically punish children
  • no value placed on aggression
  • no cultural norms
  • therefore SLT many only occur in Western societies (cultural bias)
• DABBS ET AL?

  • higher testosterone in violent criminals than non-violent criminals