Critically consider the view that aggression can be explained in social psychological terms.

Children observe aggressive behaviour

Model is rewarded for aggressive behaviour

Other adults show approval of model’s aggressive behaviour

Other children imitate behaviour of model

        Social learning theories of aggression rely heavily on experimental evidence and field studies of observational learning. There are however, some methodological problems in Bandura’s study. Joseph said that the experiment only involves harm to an inflatable doll not a human being, therefore it is not a good example of aggression. Johnston found that children who behaved violently towards the doll were rated as more violent generally by teachers. Aggression is often described as antisocial behaviour but by observing adult aggressive behaviour being rewarded children may think this behaviour is acceptable and normative. Therefore it shows that social learning theory explains that is more about learning behaviour rather than being a reflection of an individual’s inner state. It also explains the findings which show that children who watch violent films are more likely to behave in an aggressive way.        Social learning theory can account for cultural and individual variation; it can also explain why we behave aggressively in some situations and not others. When we are rewarded or reinforced for behaving aggressively this is related to specific situations, in other situations we may find this behaviour isn’t rewarded. This is known as context dependent learning.    

        In spite of the success of social learning theory, there are reasons for arguing that Bandura’s approach is limited and that aggressive behaviour is not solely dependent on observational learning. In frustrating situations you are more likely to behave aggressively and Dollard put this down to the frustration-aggression hypothesis linking frustration and aggression. This shows that aggression is these situations is a reflection of the inner state of individuals. However, anger does not always lead to aggression. Social and environmental factors operating at the time may determine if someone behaves aggressively. Aggressive behaviour may increase under hostile environmental conditions such as noisy situations but fear of retaliation from the ‘victim’ may inhibit aggression.         

        Biological explanations of aggressive behaviour have stressed factors quite unrelated to social learning. Higher levels of the male hormone testosterone have been cited as a primary causal agent in aggressive behaviour. This casts doubt on aggression being purely a learned behaviour. However, social psychologists point to societies that have no aggressive behaviour such as Amish in the USA as powerful evidence of the dominant role played by learning over biology.

        In conclusion, evidence shows that social psychological explanations of aggression being learned behaviour have an element of truth. However, it is not the only explanation of aggression and other explanations such as biological studies have to been taken into account.