How effective is the social learning theory in explaining aggressive behaviour?
How effective is the social learning theory in explaining aggressive behaviour? The social learning theory (SLT) is the basic assumption that people learn, not through direct reinforcement but through the observation of models. The SLT is appliable to all behaviour, including aggressive behaviour, which can be defined as any action or series of actions in which the direct purpose is to cause injury or damage. The SLT is quite effective in explaining aggressive tendencies, e.g. why some people are more aggressive than others and why children raised in violent homes are more prone to aggressiveness, but it does not explain why there seem to be a gender difference concerning aggressive behaviour. Most of the research on the social learning theory in the context of aggressive or violent behaviour was done by Albert Bandura et al, (1963). He performed one laboratory test where children we grouped in 3 different groups, and the children in the first group observed aggressive acts performed by a model on a large inflatable toy, the second a model acting in a non-aggressive manner and the last group served as a control group. After observing the model, the children were led to a playroom where they were observed through a one-way mirror. The children who had watched the aggressive model frequently imitated the same acts of aggression, compared to the other groups who showed none of
Psychology essay. Outline research evidence relating to bystander behaviour. Assess the effects of cultural differences on pro - social behaviour.
Psychology essay A. Outline research evidence relating to bystander behaviour. B. Assess the effects of cultural differences on pro - social behaviour. A. Bystander behaviour deals with the factors determining whether the bystanders or witnesses of an incident help a victim whom they don't know. Latanane and Darley carried out research into the influence of situational factors on helping bystander behaviour. Male college students were asked to sit in a waiting room, and fill in a questionnaire. The participants were either alone or in groups of three. Smoke was poured through a small opening in the wall and the participants reactions were watched for six minutes. The results found were that when people were on their own within two minutes 50% reported smoke and 75% reported it within six minutes. 62% carried on working for six minutes although the room was full of smoke. When the participants were in groups only 12% reported the smoke within two minutes and 385 within six minutes. The people who were working together claimed that they were looking at each other for guidance as to how to behave. Non of them knew how to behave, so no one moved and the situation was redefined as a harmless one. This type of situation is called 'pluralistic ignorance' and this occurs when people involved are not fully aware of all the facts of the situation. The number of bystanders
An explanation of Mr. Buckley's helping behaviour- A social Psychological perspective.
An explanation of Mr. Buckley's helping behaviour- A social Psychological perspective. The murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964 caused a national outcry. Although her death was horrific, the public could not believe the police reported 38 people witnessing the incident yet not one person took any action. The dismay this caused prompted Psychologists to study the factors involved in helping behaviour. Helping behaviour may be defined as "an intentional act to benefit someone else". (Hogg and Vaughan, 1995, cited in Hogg and Vaughan, 2002, p 280). Other related terms are altruism and prosocial behaviour. Each terms definition emphasises different aspects of the behaviour, particularly the motive for helping. At present, there is not a universally accepted definition of helping behaviour. The number of terms in use reflects this disparity. This essay will provide various social explanations of the helping behaviour demonstrated by Mr. Buckley. Main conclusions are the theory proposed by ? seems to account for the cited behaviour more effectively than the alternatives discussed below. The cognitive model of bystander intervention (Latane and Darley, 1970, cited in Hogg and Vaughan, 2002) suggests a person makes a series of judgements ultimately leading to the refusal or implementation of help. If help is to be given, the situation needs to demonstrate something is wrong and
Discuss research studies relating to media influence on proand anti social behaviour.
Discuss research studies relating to media influence on pro and anti social behaviour. There have been many studies of TV violence and aggression - partly due because of the increasing amount of violence being shown on TV, and partly because of the increasing importance of TV in our day to day living. Media influence on pro-social behaviour. Hearold (1986) found that despite the relatively few studies that have been carried out on the media's pro-social influence compared to its antisocial influence, the influences observed have been larger and constant for both girls and boys. This is seen as being largely due to have an influence on viewers where antisocial messages are not. Research has shown that children imitate many figures of pro-social behaviour when exposed to models displaying these behaviors in the media. Research on pro-social influence has shown that television messages that contain only a pro-social message are generally effective in producing pro-social behaviour in viewers. However, research has often used brief segments of specially produced programmes, and so may be considered artificial and lack real life application. Research into the influences of pro-social behaviour has shown that pro-social messages that are presented alongside anti social messages need to be presented in clear contrast and for the majority of the programme. If this does not
Voting behaviour is influenced more by political issues than by social factors
Voting behaviour is influenced more by political issues than by social factors Both political issues and social factors influence voting behaviour. The main social factors include age, gender, class, religion and ethnicity. In normal circumstances the majority of younger voters have tended to vote for the Labour Party, whereas the older voter would tend to support the Conservative Party. This can be seen in the results of the October 1974 election where 42% of new voters (18 - 22 years old) voted Labour, but only 24% voted Conservative. This pattern was reversed in 1983 and 1987, but by 1997 the majority of new voters were again voting Labour. Studies have shown that new voters are often volatile and their behaviour is difficult to predict. Therefore age is not a very influential factor affecting voting behaviour. Pulzer (1967, p.107) stated that there was evidence women are more conservative than men. Between 1979 and 1992 more women voted for the Conservatives than for any of the other parties, and by some margin. In 1997, gender differences had almost disappeared. This could be accounted for by Labour's election tactics to make an effort to win over women voters and also by the changing nature of the workforce as more women were in paid employment. As there are probably fewer differences in the expectations of men and women today, gender has become a decreasing
"Consider whether the new procedures relating to anti-social behaviour in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill of 2003 might be open to challenge under the European Convention on Human Rights?"
"Consider whether the new procedures relating to anti-social behaviour in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill of 2003 might be open to challenge under the European Convention on Human Rights?" There is no doubt that for a society to function equitably a certain degree of restraining "anti-social behaviour" through anti-social behaviour orders is necessary. What however is an anti-social behaviour? Introduced by section 1 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, they are "civil orders that exist to protect the public from behaviour that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress" (see research memorandum #1). The orders prohibit the offender from anti-social acts but they are not criminal penalties or punishments. One recent case entailing the use of anti-social behaviours in Britain is a case involving a teenager named David Young. His anti-social behaviour which involved (as he himself described it) "I've nicked cars, I've robbed about three houses in my whole life and that's about it isn't it?" (research memorandum #3) earned him a banning order from his neighbourhood for the next 10 years, reduced to 5 years by appeal. He also faced the risk of a 5 year imprisonment if he stepped back into his exclusion zone. It is through this case that I will attempt to show one way of how the new procedures in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill of 2003 might indeed be open to
"Discuss the range of social and other factors which influence voting behaviour."
DEAN MILLER POLITICS ST MA MATRICULATION NUMBER: 02 203015 5 TUTOR: ADRIAN FLINT "Discuss the range of social and other factors which influence voting behaviour." "Discuss the range of social and other factors which influence voting behaviour." Many factors are said to influence voting behaviour, however in many areas the extent to which this is true is unclear. This essay will convey and contrast the spectrum of social as well as other factors which influence voting behaviour. Possibly the most commonly thought factor which influences voting behaviour is class. In the past most political scientists would have agreed with the notion that working class (manual workers) people were more likely to vote Labour and that middle class (non-manual workers) people were more likely to vote Conservative and, up until the late 1970's there appeared to be statistical evidence of people voting for their traditional class party. However, since then, the evidence for this has weakened significantly and class can only be considered as one of many suggestive factors. However, although many political thinkers have claimed that "class voting" did or does exist in Britain, there is evidence to suggest otherwise. At least a third of the working class consistently votes Conservative. Since according to the 1961 census, two-thirds of the population were employed in manual occupations,
A report on anti-social behaviour in the local area of Blackhill, Consett
. Title A report on anti-social behaviour in the local area of Blackhill, Consett 2. Terms of reference Ruth Bewick researched this report on the instruction of the Blackhill residents association (20/09/09), who requested information concerning problems in the area. Recommendations from the report were then put forward to the local council. 3. Introduction Anti-social behaviour has been an ongoing problem for a number of years but has recently grew worse, Over the last 12 months anti social behaviour has increased by 12.3%, Residents have grown concerned over this issue, as anti-social behaviour does not just make life unpleasant. It holds back the regeneration of disadvantaged areas and creates an environment where crime that is more serious can take hold. This concern has been bought forward at many meetings with residents, accumulating requests that are now a matter of urgency. 4. Procedure To find the true nature of this problem, the following investigative procedures were taken. 4.1 Seventy-five residents were approached and invited to complete a questionnaire. (See appendix 1) 4.2 A second questionnaire were given to the 75 residents who completed the first questionnaire (see appendix 2) 4.3 Residents were then asked if there were any other comments they wished to make regarding the contents of the previously mentioned questionnaires. 4.4 Telephone calls
How can an Understanding of Personal Constructs improve our understanding of Social Behaviour?
How can an Understanding of Personal Constructs improve our understanding of Social Behaviour? Personality is a pattern of behaviour that is specific to an individual's character and more importantly tends to be consistent across situations and over time. Within the context of personality arises the concept of what are personal constructs or better captured as alternative constructionism. George Kelly writes in his well knows A Theory of Personality "that man may be better understood in his own personal ways the stream of events upon which he finds himself suitely borne" (Kelly, 1955 Page 1.) Although the theory of personal constructs has been analytically criticised as a "meta-theory" and the victim of many misinterpretations in all its complexes; the aim of this essay is to provide a simple understanding of the theory and in relevance its fusion with social behaviour. The framework of personal constructs lies upon Kelly's notion that man is the scientist or so on an unconscious level behaves as one out of need to predict and control events in one's social surroundings. The cognitive process of an individual is "psychologically channelised by the way he anticipates events" (Kelly, 1955 Page 46) and therefore mimics the following stages: - * Thinking- Individual has his own perception of the world * Problem Solving- Individual builds certain construct "theories" *
To what extent does social class continue to affect voting behaviour in Britain?
To what extent does social class continue to affect voting behaviour in Britain? Social class can be defined as an informal ranking of people in a culture based on their income, occupation, education, dwelling, and other factors1. Different societies however, differ according to social class, due to diverse social factors. Britain was once a class-ridden society. Class was a staple part of the British way of life. Today, multiculturalism and a changing economy are gradually eroding the British class system, but some features of the system still remain2. Concentrating on Britain, many modern thinkers have put forward different models and structures of social class to define the system; nevertheless, the Goldthorpe class schema is the most widely used measure of class. When analysing with the use of statistical analysis software, it is best to use five levels of class, however, the Goldthorpe schema does not limit it to such a few. The five levels are: the salariat, the routine non-manual workers, the petty bourgeoisie, the blue collar elite, and finally the working class. The class levels differ with those with the most security, authority and wealth at the top, and those with insecure employment, and work subjected to the authority of others at the top3. Examining the report written in 2000 about social class and voting trends produced by Robert Andersen and Anthony Heath,
