Essay On The Bobo Doll Experiment
1. Provide a review of the classical study in your own words.
Bandura, A., Ross, D., & Ross, S.A. (1961) Transmission of Aggression through Imitation of Aggressive Models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63. 575-582.
This study, famously known as the “Bobo doll experiment” set out to examine four main hypotheses: 1) that children who observed an adult model acting aggressively would imitate these aggressive acts even in the absence of the model, 2) observation of a non-aggressive adult model would inhibit aggressive behaviours, 3) that children would be more likely to imitate the behavior of a same-sex model and 4) that boys would act more aggressively than girls (Hock, R.R. 2005, p.86).
The study took place in the Stanford …show more content…
Assess five strengths of this study and five weaknesses of this study.
Strengths of study Limitations/weaknesses of study
The experiment was very controlled e.g. the toys in the room were arranged in a fixed order to avoid any variation in behavior (Bandura et al., 1961). The fact that the experiment took place in a laboratory setting meant that the experimenter had control over all variables. The experiment does not have external validity. Because the experiment took part in a laboratory, the experimental procedure and the results of the experiment are not indicative of real-life situations.
The experiment demonstrates cause and effect e.g. exposure to an aggressive model causes an increase in imitative aggressive behaviour. Four hypotheses were stated and the results of the experiment supported three of these. The group of children used in the experiment is not representative of children all over the world. All 72 children attended the same school and probably came from similar racial and socio-economic …show more content…
2005, p.91).This is why there are several examples of popular sportspeople being punished for acts of aggression, racial and sexist comments and other such anti-social behaviours. A recent example is that of the controversy around whether or not Ched Evans, a soccer player for Sheffield United and a convicted rapist, should be allowed to return to the sport. In the same way, those who commit smaller crimes such as littering on the street, fare-beating on the Luas, consuming alcohol in public, petty thefts etc. are reprimanded on a zero-tolerance basis. If these crimes were not seen to be punished, there would almost certainly be a rise in crime as others start to view these behaviours as
Bandura, A., Ross, D., & Ross, S.A. (1961) Transmission of Aggression through Imitation of Aggressive Models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63. 575-582.
This study, famously known as the “Bobo doll experiment” set out to examine four main hypotheses: 1) that children who observed an adult model acting aggressively would imitate these aggressive acts even in the absence of the model, 2) observation of a non-aggressive adult model would inhibit aggressive behaviours, 3) that children would be more likely to imitate the behavior of a same-sex model and 4) that boys would act more aggressively than girls (Hock, R.R. 2005, p.86).
The study took place in the Stanford …show more content…
Assess five strengths of this study and five weaknesses of this study.
Strengths of study Limitations/weaknesses of study
The experiment was very controlled e.g. the toys in the room were arranged in a fixed order to avoid any variation in behavior (Bandura et al., 1961). The fact that the experiment took place in a laboratory setting meant that the experimenter had control over all variables. The experiment does not have external validity. Because the experiment took part in a laboratory, the experimental procedure and the results of the experiment are not indicative of real-life situations.
The experiment demonstrates cause and effect e.g. exposure to an aggressive model causes an increase in imitative aggressive behaviour. Four hypotheses were stated and the results of the experiment supported three of these. The group of children used in the experiment is not representative of children all over the world. All 72 children attended the same school and probably came from similar racial and socio-economic …show more content…
2005, p.91).This is why there are several examples of popular sportspeople being punished for acts of aggression, racial and sexist comments and other such anti-social behaviours. A recent example is that of the controversy around whether or not Ched Evans, a soccer player for Sheffield United and a convicted rapist, should be allowed to return to the sport. In the same way, those who commit smaller crimes such as littering on the street, fare-beating on the Luas, consuming alcohol in public, petty thefts etc. are reprimanded on a zero-tolerance basis. If these crimes were not seen to be punished, there would almost certainly be a rise in crime as others start to view these behaviours as