outline and evaluate 2 social psychological approaches to aggression
Outline and evaluate two social psychological explanations
There are two social psychological approaches to aggression. These are social learning theory (SLT) and deindividuation theory (DT). Both these theories stress that aggression is a learnt process, they believe that aggression is due to our nurture and not in our nature. They dispute the biological approach to aggression.
Social learning theory was proposed by Alburt Bandura. He used the word modeling to explain how humans can quickly learn acts of aggression and incorporate these into their behavior. According to this theory aggressive behavior can be learned by observing and imitating the aggressive behavior of other people. SLT also uses the concept of vicarious learning, this means indirect learning. Bandura suggests that we can learn aggression without being directly reinforced for aggressive behavior. This works when we observe someone else being rewarded for acts of aggression. For example we may see a child gaining control of a toy (being rewarded) by using aggression, and then imitate this behavior in the hope we are also rewarded.
According to Bandura certain criteria have to be fulfilled to make imitation of the aggressive behavior more likely to happen. The person has to believe they have the ability within them to perform the observed behavior. If they believe they can carry out the behavior the aggressive act is more likely to be imitated. The characteristics of the model are also important in the social learning process. If the model is random their behavior is less likely to imitated but if the model is perceived to have status and power, the behavior is more likely to be imitated.
Bandura carried out his own research to support the SLT. In the early 1960’s Bandura carried out the bobo doll experiment. There were 3 groups in this is study, who were each exposed to a different condition. One group were exposed to an aggressive adult playing with the bobo doll, by hitting and kicking it.
There are two social psychological approaches to aggression. These are social learning theory (SLT) and deindividuation theory (DT). Both these theories stress that aggression is a learnt process, they believe that aggression is due to our nurture and not in our nature. They dispute the biological approach to aggression.
Social learning theory was proposed by Alburt Bandura. He used the word modeling to explain how humans can quickly learn acts of aggression and incorporate these into their behavior. According to this theory aggressive behavior can be learned by observing and imitating the aggressive behavior of other people. SLT also uses the concept of vicarious learning, this means indirect learning. Bandura suggests that we can learn aggression without being directly reinforced for aggressive behavior. This works when we observe someone else being rewarded for acts of aggression. For example we may see a child gaining control of a toy (being rewarded) by using aggression, and then imitate this behavior in the hope we are also rewarded.
According to Bandura certain criteria have to be fulfilled to make imitation of the aggressive behavior more likely to happen. The person has to believe they have the ability within them to perform the observed behavior. If they believe they can carry out the behavior the aggressive act is more likely to be imitated. The characteristics of the model are also important in the social learning process. If the model is random their behavior is less likely to imitated but if the model is perceived to have status and power, the behavior is more likely to be imitated.
Bandura carried out his own research to support the SLT. In the early 1960’s Bandura carried out the bobo doll experiment. There were 3 groups in this is study, who were each exposed to a different condition. One group were exposed to an aggressive adult playing with the bobo doll, by hitting and kicking it.