Edexcel GCSE Psychology – Social Learning Theory and Aggression – Flashcards

Attention Memory Reproduction Motivation

Paying attention to the person to the person being observed

Being able to recall what we have seen until it's needed

Acting out what we see - modelling

The incentive to copy what has been seen

-Bandura's study showed that when children observed an adult playing aggressively with the Bobo doll, they copied that behaviour. -He found that if the adult was rewarded they were more likely to copy. -He found that if the adult was punished they were less likely to copy. -He found that boys were more likely to copy male adults than female adults

A person who is looked up to and copied. e.g. parent, sibling, celebrity

A feeling of similarity with a role model e.g. gender, age, which means that we are more likely to take on their beliefs

When we learn from the rewards or punishment of others. e.g. sanction for poor behaviour = less likely to copy

-The study is supported with evidence from Bandura's Bobo doll studies because he showed that children copy behaviour. -There are many real life aggressive incidents that have been linked to TV and video games, such as the Columbine Massacre, and the James Bulger murder.

-Not all children who observe aggressive behaviour copy it. -Bandura's study was a laboratory experiment, this means it is not VALID - It may be that aggressive children watch aggressive TV rather than the other way around. - Some studies have shown that watching aggressive TV can lower aggression in people because it can act as a release.

Children copy their role models, if their role model is violent and aggressive and either rewarded or not punished for it they are more likely to copy that behavior becoming aggressive themselves.