SLT

SLT

1. 1. Occurs when an individual observes aggressive behaviour being displayed by a role model with whom they identify with and are simillar to.

2. 2. Children learn about the consequences of aggressive behaviors by observing others being rewarded or punished.

   • If they witness a reward they will imitate the behaviour, but if they witness punishment they will not.
   • This is known as vicarious reinforcement.

3. 3. Children will repeat the behaviour (and will have therefore learnt it) if...

   • They can form a mental representation of the behaviour itself.
   • The perceived rewards for the behaviour are greater than the punishments.

4. 4. Supporting Research

   • Bandura
     • Put children in either a condition in which they witnessed a role model behaving aggressively towards a bobo doll, or a condition in which they didn't.
     • Found that children in the aggressive condition were much more likely to behave aggressively towards the doll if they had witnessed aggression.
       • They were especially more likely to behave aggressively if their role model had been rewarded.
     • Supports SLT as it suggests that children modeled the aggression they observed.
     • Method evaluation
       • Low internal validity
         • Children may have realised what was expected of them.
           • Therefore cannot be generalised to real life.
       • Low ecological validity
         • Aggression was directed towards a doll not a human.
           • Therefore cannot be generalised to real life.
   • Phillips
     • Found that the US daily homicide rate almost always increased during major boxing events.
       • Suggests that SLT is not only evident in children but is evident in adults too.