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Social Psychological Theories Of Aggression.
Aggressive behaviour is a result of interactions with others in the social world. Theory 1
Social Learning Theory [S.L.T].
Main Assumptions:- Bandura [65]:- Aggression is humans in the product of learning.
Learning can take many different forms.
1. Learning from direct experience
2. Learning from vicarious experience.
3. Reinforcement. Direct Experience:
An individual has to be directly involved in an aggressive act.
Linked closely to operant conditioning. (skinner rewards and punishments)
Rewards, stamp in behaviour.
Punishments stamp out behaviour.
E.g. If an individual is rewarded for behaving in an aggressive manner they are likely to repeat the behaviour. (for example bullying).
Vicarious Experience.
Observational learning.
A child observes a role model and imitates that behaviour.
For behaviour to be imitated it must be seen to be rewarding.
For example. Film stars and copy cat killers.
Reinforcement.
There are a number of Factors that influence aggressive behaviour.
1. Previous Experiences.
2. Success in the past.
3. Likely hood of punishment/reward.
4. Cognitive factors, social and environmental factors.
Rewards will vary from one individual to another. For example praise, control, power. But a reward must be present if behaviour is going to be repeated.
Key Terms. Behaviour is likely to be imitated if:
1. The model is similar.
2. The model is admired.
3. the model is rewarded.
4. They are directly rewarded for behaviour.
Evaluation of the Social Learning Theory.
Positive. There is experimental research supporting the main assumptions.
Bandura [63]:- Bobo study. Negative. There are many methodological issues surrounding the Bobo study.
This questions the validity of the findings.
Johnston [77]. The children who behaved most violently to the bobo doll were rates by their peers and teachers as being more aggressive generally.
Therefore the children behaviour may not be a result of vicarious learning.
Positive. There is research to supporting the view that aggression is learnt.
Hollin and Howells [97]. Children who are raised by physically abusive parents often behave in the same way. Straus [86]. Each generation learns to be violent by being a participant in a violent family.
Both of these studies lend support to the key assumptions of this theory ,that anti social behaviour is the product of vicarious learning.
Negative. However both of these studies should be treated with caution because they are only correlation therefore cause and effect cannot be inferred. Many other factors need to be considered. For example cannot separate biology from environment.
Positive. The social learning theory can account for inconsistencies in aggressive behaviour.
For example. The rewards and punishments vary from one context to another.
This implies that the reinforcement component of this theory is a plausible explanation, for anti social behaviour.
Positive. The social learning theory has contributed towards research exploring the effects of the media on antisocial behaviour.
Positive. Cross cultural research supports the view that learning plays a dominant role over biology in aggression.
Deaux [93]:- Amish Societies display little if any aggressive acts.
In some societies there are few differences between males and females.
This implies that aggression is the product of interactions with others.
The Bobo doll study. Bandura 1963.
3. conditions.
Condition 1.Child watched a person beating up the doll and being rewarded,
Condition 2.Child watched a person beat the bobo doll and being told off for it.
Condition 3. the person was neither rewarded or punished.
All children learnt aggressive behaviour. Condition one showed it the most. Condition 2 showed it the least and condition 3 showed in-between. The findings show that aggression is the product of observing role models being rewarded. Put forward by bandura. This research has many ethical problems:- its artificial, teaches children to be aggressive, observer bias could be also a problem in this study since they were rated by their peers.
Negative. Biological explanations of aggression disagree with the social learning theory. Nature.
For example higher levels of testosterone has been linked with higher levels of aggression.
Flanagan (2000) found that premenstrual syndrome has been cited in criminal trials as a cause of aggressive behaviour.
Both of these view points are criticized. Bandura’s view is that anti social behaviour is a product of interactions with the environment.
Negative. Reductionistic. It is far too simple to assume that all antisocial behaviour is lent and the product of interactions with others many other factors have been identified as causing aggressive behaviour. For example de-individuation.
Negative. Deterministic. No control of how you act.
This theory implies that anti social behaviour is determined by external factors therefore removing free will from the individual.
Negative. It is limited. The social learning theory cannot explain all types of antisocial behaviour.
The social learning theory put forward a plausible account as to why anti social behaviour occurs it has been extremely influential offering great insight into aggressive behaviour however it is not without its criticisms and many other explanations are possible.
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