Bandura et al (1961) Flashcards
social cognitive theory (10 cards)
1
Q
Aim
A
1) To see if children would imitate aggression modeled by adults
2) To see if children were more likely to imitate same-sex models
2
Q
Hypothesis
A
- children exposed to aggressive models will reproduce aggressive acts resembling those of the models.
- children will imitate the behavior of a same-sex model to a greater degree than a model of the opposite sex
3
Q
Method
A
matched pairs design lab experiment
4
Q
Sample
A
Children aged 3-6 yrs (36 boys and 6 girls)
5
Q
Variables
A
Independent – Viewing an aggressive (verbal vs physical, same-sex vs opposite sex) vs non-aggressive adult
Dependent – levels of aggression
6
Q
Conditions
A
- Kids split into groups with regard to levels of aggression (based on evaluation given by their nursery schoolteachers – 5 point rating scale)
- -> possible bias, mitigated by researcher triangulation
7
Q
Group 1 vs group 2
A
- Group 1: exposed to aggressive adult
- Group 2: exposed to non-aggressive adult
- One control group who didn’t see any model
8
Q
Key factors of the experiment
A
- 8 experimental conditions
- Children placed in a room with toys after watching the models
- Moved rooms into room with bobo doll (attempt to induce frustration)
- Observed by a one-way mirror + recorded for 20 mins at regular 5 second intervals
9
Q
Results
A
- Children who observed aggressive models -> more aggressive
- Showed clear signs of observational learning
- Girls were more likely to imitate verbal aggression vs boys = physical aggression
- Children more likely to imitate same-sex adults
10
Q
Evaluation
A
- Matched pairs design
- Small sample + all children of people who worked at Stanford (difficult to generalize)
- Doesn’t study if aggression is innate
- Ethically problematic: undue stress or harm (exposure to violence)
- Study is cross sectional (doesn’t monitor long term effects)
- Long term psychological effects possibility
- Highly controlled -> lacks ecological validity
