Bandura
Bandura, Ross and Ross (aggression)
Bandura, A., Ross, D. & Ross, S.A. (1961) Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models
Background
This study is a laboratory experiment investigating the effects of observing aggression and was carried out by Albert Bandura who is, perhaps, best known for his role in developing social learning theory.
Social learning theory is an approach to child development which states that children develop through learning from other people around them. In particular social learning theorists emphasise the role of observation and imitation of role models. In general, social development is seen as a continuous learning process, rather than as happening in stages.
The social learning approach has its origins in the traditional theories of classical and operant conditioning - the behaviourist perspective. Behaviourists try to explain the causes of behaviour by studying only those behaviours that can be directly observed and measured. For behaviourists the study of private mental processes (cognitive process like memory or perception) had no place in psychology.
Although social learning theorists agree that we should observe what is observable, they also believe that there are important cognitive processes which need to be studied to explain behaviour. These cognitive processes cannot be observed but can only be inferred from observing actual behaviour.
Aim
The aim of Bandura's study was to demonstrate that if children were passive witnesses to an aggressive display by an adult they would imitate this aggressive behaviour when given the opportunity.
Hypotheses
The researchers made the following 4 predictions:
1. Children exposed to aggressive models will reproduce aggressive acts resembling those of the models.
2. Children exposed to non-aggressive models will reproduce less aggressive acts.
3. Children will imitate the behaviour of a same-sex model to a greater degree than a model of the opposite
Bandura, A., Ross, D. & Ross, S.A. (1961) Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models
Background
This study is a laboratory experiment investigating the effects of observing aggression and was carried out by Albert Bandura who is, perhaps, best known for his role in developing social learning theory.
Social learning theory is an approach to child development which states that children develop through learning from other people around them. In particular social learning theorists emphasise the role of observation and imitation of role models. In general, social development is seen as a continuous learning process, rather than as happening in stages.
The social learning approach has its origins in the traditional theories of classical and operant conditioning - the behaviourist perspective. Behaviourists try to explain the causes of behaviour by studying only those behaviours that can be directly observed and measured. For behaviourists the study of private mental processes (cognitive process like memory or perception) had no place in psychology.
Although social learning theorists agree that we should observe what is observable, they also believe that there are important cognitive processes which need to be studied to explain behaviour. These cognitive processes cannot be observed but can only be inferred from observing actual behaviour.
Aim
The aim of Bandura's study was to demonstrate that if children were passive witnesses to an aggressive display by an adult they would imitate this aggressive behaviour when given the opportunity.
Hypotheses
The researchers made the following 4 predictions:
1. Children exposed to aggressive models will reproduce aggressive acts resembling those of the models.
2. Children exposed to non-aggressive models will reproduce less aggressive acts.
3. Children will imitate the behaviour of a same-sex model to a greater degree than a model of the opposite