Bandura

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Aim: When children were passive observers of an agressive act they would imitate this behaviour if given the chance.

Hypothesis: Researcher made the following predictions.

1. subjects exposed to agressive models performing agressive behaviour will imitate the behaviour.

2. those exposed to non-aggressive models would show no acts of agression.

3. Participants will re-inact the agressive acts of the same sex model to a higher degree than they would with a different sex model.

4. Boys are more likely to express agressive behaviour than the girls.

Procedure:

36 boys and 36 girls were tested, the role models consisted of one male and one female.

Lab experiment with 3 different experimental groups, Agressive model, Non-aggressive model and no model (control).

Agressive model condition 24 PPs

6 boys with same sex model:

6 boys with opposite sex model:

6 girls with same sex model:

6 girls with opposite sex model

Non-Agressive model condition 24 PPs

6 boys with same sex model

6 boys with opposite sex model

6 girls with same sex model

6 girls with opposite sex model

Before the splitting of the hildren they were assessed and were matced with others that had similar agressive tendencies, this was to ensure not all the agressive children were in the same group,as to not cause the data to be skewed.

Stage 1:

the experimenter led the children into a room, in one corner was toys for the children to play in the other corner there was a Bobo doll, the model was invited in

in the agressive condition: the model played wih the toys but then began to act aggresively towards the Bobo doll, in a distinct stylised way.

In the non-agressive condition the model ignored the Bobo doll.

Stage 2: Agression arousal, the children were taken to a room with nice toys, they began to play with them but were told after a minute the experimenter did not want them to play with the toys as she was saving them for another group of children.

Stage 3: Children taken to final room, there was a variety of toys, some non-aggressive toys and some agreesive toys like the Bobo doll.

There were 2 observers who watched through a one-way mirrir who recorded the behaviours of the children, one new what condition the child had been in whereas the other did not.

INTER RATER RELIABILITY

Findings: the observers looked for specific behaviours hat the role models had performed, like dropping the Bobo doll on its head or hitting over the head with a mallet.

Children in the aggressive condition showed more agressive responses than those who were in the non-agressive ondition.

Boys made more agressive responses than the girls.

Boys in agressive condition showed more agressive acts if the model had been male.

Girls in agressive condition showed more physical acts of agression if the model was male and more verbal forms of aggression of themodel had been female.

Agressive behaviour of the male model was more accepted y the children, it fitted with the stereotypical view they had of men, but the female model confused them.

Evaluation:

Strengths -->

Lab condition all variables were controlled meaning cause-and-effect conclusions could be drawn. the model did have an effect on the way the children behaved.

Precise variables were controlled eg gender of the model, number of children in each group, matched pairs design.

Replicated, standardised inctructions and procedures were followed.

Weaknesses:

Not ecologically valid, the set up was unrealistic for example the idea of SLT learning from role models occurs on a much subtler scale in real life.

Interpreatation of the 'aggressive' acts could have been subjective, different scientists may ave interpetated the evidence in a different way.

unethical, especially agression arousal stage, it is unfair to cause deliberate distress on young children.

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