Bandura’s Studys (1961, 1963, 1965) Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is the aim of Bandura’s (1961) Imitating Aggression study?
-To investigate if children would show more aggressive behaviour if exposed to an aggressive role model, compared to a non-aggressive role model.
-Also to investigate if the sex of the role model affects the likelihood of the child imitating them, and to see if boys were more aggressive than girls.
What is the procedure of Bandura’s (1961) Imitating Aggression study?
- 72 children aged 3-5 (36 girls, 36 boys) from Stanford University nursery.
- Split into 50:50 gender split in each group and matched on baseline aggressive levels as rated by their nursery teachers.
- Matched pairs design.
- 24 children in a control group (no exposure to a role model), 24 children saw an aggressive role model, 24 children saw a non-aggressive role model.
- 3 rooms:
1) In the model room, the children played with paints and stickers. In the aggressive model condition, the adult followed a scripted routine and pushed, sat on, punched, hit and shouted at the bobo doll. In the non-aggressive model condition, the adult ignored the doll. In the control group, there was no role model.
2) Next, in the aggression arousal toon, the children were given a few minutes to play with toys, then the experimenter told the child the toys were actually meant for the other children, to induce feelings of frustration.
3) Finally, the child was taken to the observation room for 20 minutes with a mixture of toys (aggressive and non-aggressive). They used a one-way mirror to observe, every 5 seconds for 240 intervals (time sampling).
What are the results of Bandura’s (1961) Imitating Aggression study?
- Children who observed an aggressive role model showed higher levels of physical and verbal aggression, whereas little aggression was seen in the non-aggressive and control conditions.
- In general, the male role model had a greater impact than the female role model
- The children came up with novel (new) ways of being physical.
- Boys we’re more likely to imitate aggression from a male role model than a female role model (girl- 6.35, boy- 19.1).
What is the conclusion from Bandura’s (1961) Imitating Aggression study?
Bandura’s concluded that behaviour such as aggression can be learned through observation and imitation even if it hasn’t been reinforced.
People will imitate the role model they identify with most.
What is the aim of Bandura’s (1963) Filmed/ Cartoon Role models study?
To investigate if children would also imitate aggression if exposed to an aggressive role model in a film.
What is the procedure of Bandura’s (1963) Filmed/ Cartoon Role models study?
- 96 children aged 3-5 (48 girls, 48 boys) from Stanford University nursery.
- 50:50 gender split in each group, and matched on baseline aggression levels as rated but their nursery teachers.
- 24 children were in a control group (no exposure to a role model), 24 children saw an aggressive LIVE role model, 24 children saw an aggressive FILMED role model, 24 children saw an aggressive FILMED role model dressed as a CARTOON CAT. There was no non-aggressive role model condition!
- The model room, arousal room and observation room procedures were the same as the 1961 study.
What were the results of Bandura’s (1963) Filmed/ Cartoon Role models study?
- Higher levels of aggression were seen by children who saw any aggressive or model compared to the control group.
- There was no significant difference between the amount of aggression seen amongst the live, filmed and cartoon conditions.
What was the conclusion of Bandura’s (1963) Filmed/ Cartoon Role models study?
- Bandura’s concluded that children will imitate filmed/cartoon aggression from role models in the same way as live aggressive role models.
- Watching filmed aggression therefore is not cathartic.
What is the aim of Bandura’s (1965) Reinforced Filmed Role Models study?
-To investigate if children would be more likely to imitate a role model they see being rewarded and less likely to imitate a role model they see being punished by vicarious learning (positive reinforcement and positive punishment).
-Also to investigate if children would be more likely to imitate if they were offered a reward themselves (positive reinforcement).
What is the procedure of Bandura’s (1965) Reinforced Filmed Role Models study?
- 66 children aged 3-5 (33 girls and 33 boys) from Stanford University nursery.
- 50:50 gender split in each group and matched on baseline aggression levels as rated by their nursery teachers.
- 22 children saw an aggressive filmed role model (no consequence), 22 children saw an aggressive filmed role model (rewarded: given sweets and praise), 22 children saw an aggressive filmed role model (punished: hit with a rolled up newspaper).
- Same model room, arousal room and observation room procedures as the 1961 and 1963 procedure.
- The children were placed into the observation room for 10 minutes (no incentive condition). They were then given juice, and told they would get more juice and sticker books if they could imitate Rocky (incentive condition). If they imitated Rocky, they were given rewards.
What are the results of Bandura’s (1965) Reinforced Filmed Role Models study?
- Overall, the model punished condition produced the least aggressive imitation, especially amongst girls.
- When incentives were offered, aggression rose in all conditions.
What is the conclusion of Bandura’s (1965) Reinforced Filmed Role Models study?
- Bandura’s concluded that children are less likely to imitate role models that they are being punished therefore vicarious punishment reduced imitation.
- However, vicarious reinforcement had little impact on imitation.
- Positive reinforcement increased imitation, regardless of whether the behaviour was previously vicariously punished.
What was the procedure for the model room, arousal room and observation room procedures for the 1961, 1963 and 1965 study?
1) In the model room, the children played with paints and stickers. In the aggressive model condition, the adult followed a scripted routine and pushed, sat on, punched, hit and shouted at the bobo doll. In the non-aggressive model condition, the adult ignored the doll. In the control group, there was no role model.
2) Next, in the aggression arousal toon, the children were given a few minutes to play with toys, then the experimenter told the child the toys were actually meant for the other children, to induce feelings of frustration.
3) Finally, the child was taken to the observation room for 20 minutes with a mixture of toys (aggressive and non-aggressive). They used a one-way mirror to observe, every 5 seconds for 240 intervals (time sampling).
Describe the generalisability of Bandura’s study’s.
(3 weaknesses)
- Number of children in each condition was small (6 of each gender in 1961), therefore limits generalisability.
- Sample were ages 3-5, so it might be that older children would be less likely to imitate aggression from role models.
- The children were recruited from a prestigious University nursery meaning they be from highly educated, higher class families, which could affect their behaviour.
Describe the reliability of Bandura’s Study’s.
(2 strengths)
- Standardised procedure throughout (scripted aggression, checklist for observing the children, same amount of time in observation room).
- Used 2 observers behind the mirror (increased inter-rater reliability). He filmed the 1963 study so the recordings could be watched by others (increased inter-rater reliability).
Describe the applicability of Bandura’s Study’s.
(2 strengths)
- Used positively in society (education, teachers need positive role models and could use buddy systems).
- 1963 and 1965 studies have applications to supporting TV/ film/ game censorship, particularly where characters aren’t punished for violent behaviour.
Describe the validity of Bandura’s Study’s.
(2 strengths, 1 weakness)
Strengths:
- Use of control groups allowed a cause and effect relationship to be seen, by identifying a baseline of aggression.
- Children were matched based on nursery teacher’s ratings of aggression, to ensure internal validity and reduce participant variables impacting the results.
Weakness:
- Lack ecological validity- artificial settings aren’t the children’s natural environment. It may be that imitation is less or more likely in everyday situations, or where the role models are known to the children.
Describe the ethicality of Bandura’s Study’s.
(2 weaknesses, 1 partial strength)
Strength:
- Parents gave presumptive consent.
Weakness:
- Children couldn’t withdraw and no effort was made to debrief them afterwards to tell them the adults were acting.
- Bandura may have caused distress by subjecting them to aggression. The acts of violence may have stayed with them and may have gone to imitate this outside of the experiment.
