Rotter supported this latter study on the consequences aggressive behaviour in one of his studies, stating that people wish to avoid negative consequences, and desire positive results or effects. If one expects a positive outcome from a behaviour, or thinks there is a high probability of a positive outcome, then they will be more likely to engage in that behaviour. The behaviour is reinforced, with positive outcomes, leading a person to repeat the behaviour. This social learning theory suggests that behaviour is influenced by these environmental factors or stimuli, and not psychological factors alone.
Bandura Ross and Ross in turn supported Rotter’s claim in their 1965 study; they had four-year-olds watch a film of two adults named Johnny and Rocky. The Johnny character had a large display of attractive toys. In one condition, Rocky acts aggressively and wins the toys and in the other Rocky is beaten up by Johnny for his aggressive behaviour. Not surprisingly the children in the first condition, where Rocky is rewarded, imitate the aggression.
One study by Poulos et al in 1975 looked at the effects of television on altruistic or selfless behavior. His study consisted of one group of young children watching an episode of ‘Lassie’ and one group of children watching a neutral program. The children were then presented with puppies in distress. The children who watched Lassie were more likely to help the dogs than those who had not, suggesting that children can be influenced by specific acts of selflessness. This experiment supports Bandura’s Social Learning Theory as the children learned through observation.
However, Bandura has been criticised and his Bobo doll experiment stated to have lacked ecological validity and contained generalised results; the experiment was conducted in a laboratory and the extent to which the behaviour would be imitated was exaggerated. Durkin pointed out in 1995 that children are more likely to imitate aggressive behaviour directed towards a doll rather than towards another child. He stated that Bandura did not distinguish between real aggression and play-fighting. He also criticized that an adult is unlikely to demonstrate how to attack something and then allow a child to have imitate him.
Rotter supported this latter study on the consequences aggressive behaviour in one of his studies, stating that people wish to avoid negative consequences, and desire positive results or effects. If one expects a positive outcome from a behaviour, or thinks there is a high probability of a positive outcome, then they will be more likely to engage in that behaviour. The behaviour is reinforced, with positive outcomes, leading a person to repeat the behaviour. This social learning theory suggests that behaviour is influenced by these environmental factors or stimuli, and not psychological factors alone.
In 1990, Cumberbatch commented on the novelty value of the Bobo doll, that is, the fact that it bounces back up when it is knocked down, and found that children who had not played with a Bobo Doll before were five times as likely to imitate the aggressive behaviour than those who were familiar with it.
In addition, Charlton et al’s 1999 in St. Helena did not support the theory of media interaction in the social learning theory. School aged children in the island of St. Helena who had never been exposed to television were evaluated before and after observing a violent program. Results showed that there was no significant increase in aggressive behaviour after this exposure.
However, from the historical perspective, the social learning theory is the most successful in explaining behaviour; imitation is instinctive, as children have the innate need to copy the actions of others.
by
audreybucket (student)
