Bandura (1961)

Bandura (1961)

1. Aim

   • To demonstrate that if children were witnesses to an aggressive display by an adult they would imitate this aggressive behaviour when given the opportunity.

2. Participants

   • 36M and 36F (72)
   • Stanford UNI, Nursery School
   • Age: 37 - 69 months
     • Mean Age: 4.4 yrs
   • 2 adults (M+F) = Model
   • 1F experimenter conducted the study

3. Prediction (hypothesis)

   • 1. Observing an adult model will result in Pts. reproducing aggressive acts, whereas this wont happen with those who observe a non-aggressive model or don't observe a model.
   • 2. Oberving an aggressive model will lead a Pt. to behave in a more aggressive manner whereas Pts. who observe a non-aggg model will not behave aggressivly.
   • 3. Pts. will imitate the behaviour of the same sex model more than the opposite sex model.
   • 4. Boys will be more likely to imitate aggressive behaviour bc. it is a masculine activity.

4. Rating

   • Subjects were rated on four 5 point rating scales by the experimenter and a nursery school teacher.
     • The scales measure the extent to which subjects displayed physical aggression + verbal aggression towards inanimate objects and agg. inhibition
   • Sunjects were arranged in triplets and assigned at random to each group and condition.

5. Procedure

   • 76 subjects (36M+F)
     • 24 agg-model condition
       • 6M watched a M model, 6F watched a F model (and vice versa)
     • 24 non-agg model condition
       • " "
     • 24 control model condition
       • 12M + 12F, no model observed

6. Strengths

   • High Control
   • Usefulness

7. Weaknesses

   • Low E.V.
   • Not rep = no gen. R+C
   • Ethics

8. STAGE 1

   • 10 MINS
   • 1 by 1 entered into the experimental room
     • Placed into one corner ('play area')
       • Experimenter leaves
         • Non- Agg condition
           • tinker toys in quiet manner
         • Agg condition
           • tinker toys collapsed, moved onto Bobo doll = sat on and punched
             • HIt it with mallet, verbal agg "hit it!", "Pow!","Sock him!"
     • Told to play with potato stamps and stickers (they are attractive to children)
       • attractive = high interest
     • Model in opposit corner
       • tinker toys, mallet, Bobo doll

9. STAGE 2

   • 2 MINS
   • All Pts. were exposed to agg. arousal to ensure that they were under some degree of instigation for aggression.
     • This was bc. research shows that witnessing agg. can actually reduce agg. behaviour in the observer
   • Introduced child to 'relativley attractive' toys for 2 minutes
     • experimenter said:
       • "these are my very best toys, and didnt let just anyone play with them, decided to reserve these toys for others"

10. STAGE 3

    • 20 MINS
      • divided into 5 second intervals
    • Child is taken into an adjoining room with other toys.
      • Experimenter had to stay in room as children would leave or refuse to participate
        • to minimize any influence, stayed busy with paper work
      • experimental room contained
        • AGGRESSIVE
          • Bobo doll, mallet, peg board, dart guns, tether ball with face
        • NON-AGGRESSIVE
          • tea set, crayons, colouring paper, ball, 2 dolls, cars and trucks
      • toys were arranged in a fixed order for each session
      • Behaviour was rated in terms of predetermined response categories
        • the performances of half the subjects were also scored independently by a 2nd observer
          • (had no knowledge of assigned conditions)