Social Psychological Theories of Aggression

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Social Psychological Theories of Aggression

Social learning theorists propose that behaviour, such as aggression

is learnt through observation, imitation and behaviour shaping. This

behaviour is learnt automatically through observation of male and

female role models, for example parents, peers and media characters.

Whether or not this behaviour is imitated depends on the type of

reinforcement that the role model receives.

Vicarious reinforcement involves the outcome of a role models

behaviour, for example if a child observes a parent acting

aggressively and receiving positive rewards for they are more like to

be imitate this behaviour in the future, than they would be if the

role model received negative feedback.

A study that investigates reinforcement and the Social Learning Theory

is Bandura's BoBo Doll Experiment. Bandura exposed children aged three

and six, to either an aggressive model of the same or opposite sex or

a non-aggressive model of the same or opposite sex. Where the model

was non-aggressive, the model just played with the toys and ignored

the BoBo Doll. The aggressive model however showed aggression towards

the BoBo Doll, by punching it at the same time as being verbally

aggressive towards it. Afterwards the children observed the role

models being positively rewarded for their behaviour regardless of

whether they were aggressive or not. The child was then taken to

another room where there were a variety of toys including, a BoBo

Doll. The child was observed. It was found that the children exposed

to the aggressive model reproduced a great deal more aggressive

behaviour than those in the non-aggressive or contro...

... middle of paper ...

...rm, honest and sincere she did not receive

any less shock than those who were believed to be conceited and

critical, by contrast the individuated students did adjust the shock

administered according to the victim character.

However there is also research that challenges the theory of

deindividuation as Johnson and Dowling (1979) proposed that

participants who were wearing nurse's uniforms administered less

shocks than those wearing masks and hoods similar to those of the Klu

Klux Klan. This could be as the participants were changing to fit the

role they were given.

The Social Learning Theory can explain aggressive behaviour in the way

that it shows the observation, imitation and repetition of certain

behaviour. However it has limitations in the way that it only explains

aggressive behaviour to a certain extent.

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