15.3.2 Social Learning Theory of Aggression

Social psychological explanations of human aggression

The social learning theory of aggression argues that:

• Aggression is learned through observation and imitation of models.
• Thus, aggression is caused by the environment, not genetics.

Factors influencing observational learning of aggression:

• Identification An individual is more likely to imitate aggressive behaviour if they identify with the model

• Vicarious reinforcement An individual is more likely to imitate aggressive behaviour if the model is rewarded for their aggressive behaviour

Meditational processes:

Attention: Noticing and observing a model's behaviour

Memory: Remembering the behaviour that has been observed

Reproduction: Having the skills and ability to replicate the observed behaviour

Motivation: The will to perform the behaviour, which is often determined by the rewards or punishments that follow it (vicarious reinforcement)

Bandura:

Conducted a lab experiment where children observed an aggressive or non-aggressive role model with a Bobo doll and were then tested for imitative learning in the absence of the model.

Children who had observed the aggressive model were more aggressive than the children who had observed the non-aggressive model.

Bandura later found that children who saw the model get rewarded for aggression were more likely to imitate the aggression, due to vicarious reinforcement

This supports the idea that people who observe aggression are more likely to demonstrate aggression, providing support for social learning theory explanation.

SLT evaluation:

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