Learning

• Bandura

  • Criminality is learned through modelling- by observing other people.
• Bandura Bobo doll experiment (1961)

  • Sample of 36 boys and 36 girls aged between 3-6.
  • The children watched a model playing with a bobo doll.
  • 24 children watched aggressive modelling, 24 watched non-aggressive modelling and 24 watched no modelling.
  • Findings of the Bobo doll experiment: Children who observed the aggressive model acted more aggressively towards the model than the children who saw the non-aggressive and no modelling. Boys also acted more aggressively than girls.
• Follow up Bobo doll experiment (1963)

  • Showed videos to children where an adult behaved aggressively towards the bobo doll.
  • The 1st group saw an adult praised for their behaviour, the 2nd group saw an adult punished and the 3rd group saw no consequences.
  • Findings of the follow up Bobo doll experiment: the 1st group behaved much more aggressively followed by the 3rd group then the 2nd. This proves vicarious reinforcement.
• Bandura Strengths

  • They only changed the the models behaviour and controlled all other variables. The results showed that it did have an affect on their behaviour and therefore it showed cause and effect.
  • Real life application- showed the need to protect children from watching aggressive behaviour. Shows need for rating certificates on games and films.
  • The study has been done twice with similar results, showing reliability.
• Bandura weaknesses

  • It does not take into account biological processes.
  • some crimes cannot be explained through this theory as some crimes like murder do not involve seeing someone produce this behaviour.
  • Not all people who witness crimes then go and copy it.