Outline and evaluate two social psychological theories of aggression

Emily Thomason

Outline and evaluate two social psychological theories of aggression. (24 marks)

Bandura believed that the potential for aggression may be biological, but the expression of aggression is learned. The social-learning theory (SLT) states that learning occurs through observation of a model. Imitation of an observed behaviour is more likely if the model is someone we aspire to or identify with or if they are rewarded. This is vicarious reinforcement. A child forms a mental representation of an event, including the possible rewards or punishments of the behaviour. When a child imitates an aggressive behaviour, they gain direct experience, and the outcome of the behaviour influences the value of aggression for the child. If they are rewarded they are more likely to repeat the behaviour. Children develop self-efficacy, which is confidence in their ability to successful carry out a behaviour. If aggressive behaviour is unsuccessful for a child, they will have a lower sense of self-efficacy so are less likely to behave this way in future.

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There is strong empirical evidence to support the SLT. For example, Bandura’s Bobo doll studies found that children who observed a model behaving aggressively to the Bobo doll behaved more aggressively than those who observed a non-aggressive model and also imitated specific aggressive acts. This supports the theories claims that behaviour can be learned through observation. A criticism of this study is that it only used children participants, so we are unable to generalise these results to adults. However, Philips found that the daily homicide rate in America increases in the week after a major boxing match on TV, providing evidence of social learning in adults. An advantage of the SLT is that it can explain differences between individuals, e.g. cultural differences and also differences within individuals, which can be explained by selective reinforcement and context-dependent learning, which is when people have observed aggressive behaviour rewarded in one situation and not in another. A limitation of SLT is that it is not a complete explanation of aggression, as it can’t explain the impulse to aggress. After observing aggressive behaviour, people only behave aggressively if they are frustrated. It may also be accused of being reductionist, as it ignores biological factors such as testosterone levels.

An alternative explanation is Zimbardo’s deindividuation theory, which states that aggressive behaviour is the result of a loss of personal identity and individuality. Factors that cause deindividuation include being in a large crowd, anonymity due to wearing a uniform and altered consciousness due to drugs or alcohol. Deindividuation leads to reduced inner restraints and therefore an increase in behaviours that are usually inhibited and also reduces the fear of negative evaluation from others. This leads to an increase in aggressive behaviours. Recent changes to this theory focus on the importance of private self-awareness rather than public self-awareness. Prentice-Dunn and Rogers suggested that being in a crowd makes people less self-focused, so less able to regulate their behaviour according to their internalised attitudes and moral standards.

Empirical support for this theory comes from Zimbardo’s study in which female students were asked to shock a confederate found that those who were deindividuated by wearing robes and large hoods gave more shocks than those who were identifiable by wearing name tags. However, a criticism of this study is that deindividuation doesn’t always lead to aggression, and can sometimes make people behave more peacefully, e.g. at a peace rally or when wearing a nurses uniform. It may be that deindividuation leads to conformity to group and situational norms. Postmes and Spears carried out a meta-analysis of deindivuation studies and found no evidence that deindividuation caused anti-normative or disinhibited behaviour. Knowledge of the effect of reduced self-awareness can be used to reduce aggression in football crowds. Using mirrors and video cameras forces people to think about themselves, and reduce aggression.

Peer Reviews

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sydneyhopcroft

30th of Aug 2012

Quality of writing

The Quality of Written Communication is excellent. There is no cause for concern anywhere in the essay, with regards to improper use of psychological terminology or incorrect applications of grammar, punctuation or spelling.

Level of analysis

The Level of Analysis is proficient and consistent throughout. There is every indication of a candidate who is able to achieve a top grade with this answer. The analysis is balanced and distributed well, with the candidate satisfying both question command well. They cite studies that bare strengths and limitations to the transmission of aggression within each approach (social, behavioural and psychodynamic) and all that is written is accurate and a clear portrayal of a great knowledge of the psychology of aggression.

Response to question

This is a very well-written essay. It is confident and it's knowledge of social psychology and the nature of aggression expansive. The candidate writes clearly for and against Bandura's Social Learning Theory, and cites a number of appropriate studies in order to validate their discussion about it. The candidate also questions other potential explanations of aggression and also what the SLT does not prove in humans, such as the cognitive and biological influencing elements that may demonstrate apparently unexplainable behaviour when considering only the SLT.

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