Bandura

• Aim of Bandura (1961)

  to see whether young children imitate behaviour from a role model and to see if the gender of the model has an effect on imitation of aggression
• Aim of Bandura (1963)

  to see if observing aggression in films (human/cartoon characters) would lead to different levels of imitative aggression than using real life models
• Aim of Bandura (1965)

  To investigate the impact of vicarious reinforcement on children’s imitation of aggression
• Sample of Bandura (1961)

  A group of 72 children, 36 boys and 36 girls aged 3-5 years attending Stanford University nursery.
• Method of Bandura (1961)

  Children were matched based on their pre-existing aggressiveness, which was rated by the experimenter and nursery staff on a 5-point scale. The children were divided equally between three groups (aggressive, non-aggressive and control) and half of both experimental groups saw a same or opposite sex role model. The IV was if role model was male or female and aggressive or non-aggressive. The DV was the number of aggressive acts produced by the children in 20 minutes.
• Procedure of Bandura (1961)

  • Stage 1 - children were playing with toys and either saw a male/female role model behaving aggressively towards the bobo doll or saw a male/female play quiet and ignoring the bobo doll
  • Stage 2 - Children were aggressively aroused by being told nice toys were for other children
  • Stage 3 - the children were then observed in a room with toys including a bobo doll
• Bandura (1961) Results

  Found that participants in the aggressive role model condition imitated more physical and verbal than the non aggressive or control conditions. Boys imitated the male models physically aggressive behaviour 25.8 times on average compared to 7.2 for girls. Girls imitated the female models verbally aggressive behaviour 13.7 times on average compared to 4.5 for boys.
• Bandura 1961 conclusion

  Behaviour such as aggression can be learned by observing a role model. Behaviour is more likely to be imitated if it fits gender stereotypical behaviour such as females being more verbally aggressive
• Sample and Procedure of Bandura (1963)

  • Study involved 96 children (48 boys and 48 girls) from Stanford Uni who were matched on pre-existing aggression. Real life human aggression which was same as 1961 Study
  • Film of role model being aggressive was projected while child was playing in room
  • Cartoon of role model being aggressive was played on tv while children played in room
  • Children were then exposed to aggression arousal with observations recorded
• Bandura (1963) results

  All conditions displayed higher aggression than control (Mean aggressive acts= Real 83, Human 92 Cartoon 99, Control 54.
• Sample and Procedure of Bandura (1965)

  • 66 children from stanford uni (33 boys and 33 girls)
  • Watched a model being aggressive to a bobo doll
  • randomly allocated to groups which either:
  • watched a model be punished (Hit with newspaper)
  • rewarded (given sweets)
  • or receive no consequence
  • was then taken to a room and aggression was observed while playing with a bobo doll
  • observers recording children's behaviour didn’t know which condition child was exposed to (double blind)
• Results of Bandura (1965)

  More imitative aggressive responses were observed in those who saw the model being rewarded and least aggressive responses were shown in those who saw the model being punished.
• Conclusion of Bandura (1965)

  SeeIng a model reinforced for aggression would encourage imitation of aggression whereas punishment would discourage aggression so observing consequences affects learning.