Social learning theory

• Direct and indirect learning, Bandura

  Aggression learned directly - Operant conditioning:

  1. Positive reinforcement
  2. Negative reinforcement
  3. Punishment

  Aggressive behaviour cannot be explained in diff forms - Rather indirect mechanism = Observational learning
• Observational learning and vicarious reinforcement

  • Children get aggressive behaviours - Observing aggressive models e.g. siblings, characters or parents
  • Child works how aggressive behaviour is performed - Don't have to carry it out themselves
  • Model aggressive behaviour rewarded - Aggression is effective in getting what they want aka. Vicarious reinforcement
• Cognitive control of aggressive behaviour

  Bandura's four cognitive conditions:

  1. Attention - Observer must pay attention to models aggressive actions
  2. Retention - Remember aggressive actions
  3. Reproduction - Transform mental representation into physical action
  4. Motivation - Reason to imitate behaviour i.e. reward
• Self-efficacy - Extent we believe actions will achieve desired goal

  • Confidence ability to be aggressive grows - Learn that aggression can bring rewards
• Research into social learning of aggression, Bandura's Bobo doll

  Method: Children observing adult being aggressive with inflatable bobo doll

  • Children not allowed to play with some of the attractive toys - Increased frustration
  • Taken to another room with bobo doll and some other toys

  Findings:

  • Intimated the model - Some with direct replication
  • Control (Non-aggressive model) - Most show no aggressive behaviours
• Evaluation into the SLT and aggression - Supporting research

  Poulin + Boivin: SL analysis of preteen boys

  Findings:

  • Aggressive boys were friends with aggressive boys - Training grounds for antisocial behaviour
  • Gained resources from each other
  • Exposed to model of physical aggression + positive consequences
  • Gained reinforcement from reward - Approval

  Strength: Supports validity of the theory
• Evaluation of the SLT and aggression - Cannot explain all aggression

  Two categories of aggressive behaviour - Reactive + Proactive

  • Proactive - High levels of self-efficacy - Confident they will have benefits + Achieving goals

  HOWEVER

  • Reactive - Aggression to retaliate in the heat of the moment + Use as retribution

  Less explicable from the SLT and better explained by the Negative affect theory

  Limitation: Lack application
• Evaluation of the SLT and aggression - benefits of non-aggressive models

  • Argues ppl are not passive recipients but active influences of their own environments
  • Reciprocal determinism - Shape own aggressive behaviour by selecting and creating their surroundings

  Practical:

  • Reduce aggression - Break cycle ppl become more aggressive
  • Encouraging aggressive children to befriend non-aggressive people

  Strength: Real-life application that is beneficial