STUDY & THEORY
Strengths - SLT & Bandura's Bobo Doll Research:
- Supporting Evidence for Bandura is provided by Patterson et al (1989): He demonstrated that role models are important influences in the development of anti-social behaviour. Through the use of self-report methods, they found that very aggressive children are raised in homes of high levels of aggression and low levels of affection. Parents and other significant adults are therefore important role models. Therefore, this research not only supports Bandura, but it also provides useful applications for the real world. Many government health campaigns have used SLT concepts in adverts in reucing anti-social behaviours such as smoking and littering.
- Bandura's research has high replicability: Bandura's research was carried out in the laboratory when he had manipulated the IV (whether there was a positive/negative reinforcement) and measrued the DV (the behaviour displayed by the child) and used a standardised procedure. This high level of control suggested that if the research was carried out again then the same results could be achieved.
- Bandura and SLT have supporting cross-cultural evidence: Mead (1935) Studied aggression in different cultures and found that the Arapesh is a non-aggressive culture in which aggression is not admired (reinforced) or modelled by adults. The Mundugmor show the opposite pattern, in which violence is the norm and status is determined by the amount of aggression shown. This suggests that behaviour can be learned via observation, imitation and reinforcement as stated by SLT and may suggest that these concepts can be applied universally.
Limitations - SLT & Bandura's Bobo Doll Research:
- Bandura's research holds ethical issues: The experiment conductued was unethical in terms of protection from harm as it exposes the children to frightening and possibly novel aggression. It can be considered morally wrong because the children were encouraged to be aggressive, which is clearly not appropriate. Thus, the children did not leave the experiment as they entered it.
- Bandura used a controlled laboratory setting which makes the conditions and procedures artificial and contrived. The children may respond to demand characteristics, and behave in ways they believe to be expected. The Bobo Doll is not a real living person and it's main purpose is to be hit. There was no long-term follow up to see whether learning persists over time, thus reducing validity and limits the support for his theory.
- Underestimates the role of biological factors which have been shown to influence aggression EG: Testosterone may explain why males are more aggressive than females.