Bandura

• What does Bandura focus on?


  The idea that learning theories are based on the assumption that offending is a set of behaviours that are learnt
• What is observational learning?

  Learning a new behaviour or gaining information by watching others
• What is vicarious reinforcement?


  When a person's behaviour changes based on consequences that happen to an observed model
• When Bandura carried out tests involving the bobo doll, who were the two different models that the children were exposed to?

  - The aggressive: These models kicked and pummeled the doll as well as hitting it with a mallet and throwing it in the air

  - The non-aggressive: Showed far less aggression towards the doll
• Strength - The work of Bandura shows the importance of role models...

  ...in learning deviant behavior
• Strength - It can be applied to policies to reduce criminality...

  ...it is possible to unlearn antisocial and aggressive behaviors through buddy systems
• Strength - The bobo doll experiment did have an effect on children's behavior...


  ...this showed a cause and effect
• Limitation - The experiment has been criticized for...

  ...lacking ecological validity (lack of natural environment)
• Limitation - It has also been criticized on ethical grounds as it involved...

  ...exposing children to aggression when they should be protected from psychological and physical harm
• Limitation - Not all observed behavior is easily imitated...


  ...for example watching a safecracker in a film doesn't mean you would have the skills to copy