Outline and Evaluate the Social Learning Explanation of Aggression PDF

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ESSAY ON SOCIAL LEARNING EXPLANATION OF AGGRESSION...

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Outline and Evaluate the Social Learning Explanation of Aggression The Social Learning Theory of Aggression says that children learn aggressive behaviour through direct or indirect means. Directly uses reinforcement, and indirect uses observation. Children learn their aggressive behaviour through observation of a role model, which in turn leads to imitation and identification. Bandura said that in order for a child to learn the behaviour they must form mental representations of events, and be aware of the rewards and punishments involved (vicarious reinforcement). This suggests aggression is learnt indirectly; Bandura argues it is maintained directly. Mediational processes allow the aggression to be taken on; it starts with attention to a role model, then retention (the child remembers the actions, rewards and consequences displayed), imitation, and motivation (self efficacy is needed for the child to be confident enough to perform the behaviour). Bandura showed this in his Bobo Doll study; children were frustrated by being given toys that they couldn’t play with. The group was shown a model who behaved aggressively towards the bobo doll. The control group was not subject to observation. He found that boys were more physically aggressive, and boys and girls were equally verbally aggressive, when observing a role model display aggressive behaviour. There is supporting evidence for Bandura’s theory of aggression. Poulin and Boivin found that aggressive boys were more likely to form friendships with other aggressive boys. They say that these relationships are training grounds for antisocial behaviour. They were also found to be long lasting and reinforce aggression; they were used to gain resources of aggression and reinforcement from the approval of others. This provides support for the influence of reinforcement, observation and rewards, in causing aggression. Furthermore, a strength of the explanation is its practical application. It has shown that people are not passive recipients of reinforcement but active influencers of our own environments. We shape our own aggressive behaviour by selecting and creating the environment. The theory can be used to reduce aggression by breaking the cycle; encouraging children who are aggressive to form relationships with non-aggressive children gives more opportunities to prevent aggression. This suggests a level of environmental determinism which would allow for predicting behaviour and helping reduce anti-social behaviour. Thus, social learning theory can be used to help deal with increased aggression, and has aided a better understanding of it. However, the theory lacks universality. Different cultures have different norms about which behaviour should be reinforced. For example, direct reinforcement is unlikely when not encouraged by society, and not used to discipline the child, therefore observation and vicarious reinforcement is unavailable. However, they still display aggressive behaviour. Thus, suggesting the theory is too rooted in certain cultures, and is culturally biased, and thus other influences need to be taken into account when looking cross culturally. In addition, it is limited as it cannot explain all aggression. The social learning theory of aggression explains proactive aggression and children with self-efficacy – those who have confidence that there will be rewards. Although his supports SLT, reactively aggressive child use aggression to retaliate in the heat of the movement. They are often hostile and suspicious of people., and are not only aggressive for retribution, but also for reward. Social learning theory cannot explain this and thus is not a complete theory of aggression. There are also methodological issues with bandura’s study; the bobo doll is not a real human, and there are no risks of retaliation, suggesting the conditions do not accurately reflect those involved in real aggression. Furthermore, the study was conducted in a laboratory condition. Thus, the study lacks mundane realism, and the findings should be carefully when used to explain aggression....