Bandura 61

• Albert Bandura aimed to see whether aggressive behaviour could be acquires through observation of aggressive models. More specifically the reasercher were interested in whether children were more likely to aggressive having observed aggression, whether they selectively imitated same sex models and whether boys were more prone overall to acquiring aggressive behaviour 
• Sample: 36 boys and 36 girls aged 3-6 were selected from the Stanford university nursery in California
• • study was a laboratory experiment using a matched pairs design.
• • The dependant variable was the level of agression the children displayed
• • The independent variables included; modelling of aggression, sex of model and same/different sex model and observer.
• • Aggressiveness (Potential confounding variable) was controlled by ensuring that each group contained equally aggressive children
• • Ratings of the children were determined before hand by an experimentor who knew the children well and one of the children’s teachers, and used to match the children
• • Children were placed in threes 3 boys or three girls
• • Randomly allocated to one of the three conditions; 
  • aggression group; observed an aggressive adult model male or female punching kicking and shouting at a large inflatable bobo doll
  • Non agression group; non aggressive model assembling mechanicals toys
  • Control group: no model was present while children were playing
• Step 1 - the children were brought into a room with an observation window and allowed to play with toys (with or without model present)
• Step 2- children were then taken to another room where the children were deliberately frustrated shown new shiny toys and being told they were for other children (if they were angry they would have the urge to take it out later
• Step 3- finally the children were taken into a playroom containing a range of toys including an inflatable bobo doll. The behaviour was observed through a one way mirror by the male model ie covert. A second observer was present for half of the participants to determine inter-rater reliability.
• Behaviours were categorised as

  • imitative aggression - sitting on bobo and behaving aggressively or saying pow
  • Partially imitative- using mallet aggressively on toys other than bobo
  • Non imitative aggressive- punching bobo doll saying hostile things not said by model
• Findings

  • children who witnessed aggressive model were more likely to mimic aggression either partially or fully.
  • Children who did not observe aggressive model or adult at all displayed much less aggressive behaviour 
  • Children in aggressive group were slightly more likely to engage in non imitative aggression 
  • Boys more likely to imitate aggression shown by same sex model then opposite and more likely overall to imitate physical aggression 
• Conclusion 

  Social behaviour such as aggression can be learned by the imitation of models. Imitation is more likely when the modelled behaviour in gender typical and when the model and observer are of the same gender.