Synopsis of Bandura et al. (1961) PDF

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Synopsis of Bandura et al. (1961) Bobo Doll Experiment Mecca Muamba University at Albany

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2 Synopsis of Bandura et al. (1961) Based on previous research it was found that children will imitate an adult model’s behavior in the presence of that model. In this study Bandura et al. (1961) wanted to test the amount of imitative learning that is displayed in a new situation without the model being present. Bandura et al. (1961) hypothesize that children who are exposed to adult models displaying aggressive acts the child will produce similar acts. Also, “observation of subdued non-aggressive models would have a generalized inhibiting effect on the children’s subsequent behavior” (Bandura et al., 1961, p. 575). In other words, they predicted that children who observes an adult model act in a non-aggressive manner will experience aggression inhibition, and there should be a clear distinction from the control and aggressive group. In order to test these hypothesis children were exposed to aggressive and non-aggressive adult models. Researchers also noted a possible limitation that the influence of the sex of the model and the sex of the child has on imitation. The participants were a group of 72 children from the Stanford University Nursery School. With a 1:1 ratio for boys and girls. Their ages range from 37-69 months, or 3-6 years. One adult male model and one adult female model were also present. Having both male and female models eliminates any concern that the sex of the model has an influence on the subject’s imitation. The research design is comprised of eight experiment groups with six children in each group. In addition, there is one control group with twenty-four children. Half of the experiment group was exposed to aggressive models while the other half was exposed to non-aggressive models. Sub-groups were created where half of the children in each group observed same sex models, while the additional children observed opposite sex models. The control group was not exposed to any adult models and were tested “only in the generalization situation” (Bandura et

3 Synopsis of Bandura et al. (1961) al., 1961, p. 576). Bandura et al. (1961), matched the children in the experimental and control group based in ratings of their aggressive behavior in social interaction in the nursery school. The children were rated by the experimenter and a nursery school teacher who are both well aquatinted with the children and should know their mannerisms. Using five-point rating scale children were rated on physical aggression, verbal aggression, aggression toward inanimate object, and aggression inhibition. To ensure inter-rater reliability the experimenter and school teacher rated the children independently. The reliability of the composite aggression scale was . 89 meaning the scale has strong reliability. Bandura et al. (1961), created three measures of imitation: imitation of physical aggression, imitative verbal aggression, and imitative non-aggressive verbal responses. Measures for partially imitative behavior were establish such as: mallet aggression, if subject sits on Bobo doll, punches Bobo doll, non-imitative physical and verbal aggression, and aggressive gun play. Partially imitative behavior is when the child imitates the main parts of the model’s behavior but does not perform the complete act or directed imitative aggression towards another object besides the Bobo doll. It was also measured when children played non-aggressively or sat quietly and did not play at all. The results show that children in the aggression group imitated a lot of the physical and verbal aggressive behaviors displayed by the adult models. Confirming the hypothesis that children who are exposed to adult models displaying aggressive acts the child will produce similar acts. However, the hypothesis that children who observes an adult model act in a nonaggressive manner will experience aggression inhibition cannot be confirmed because there was not a clear distinction between the aggressive and control group. According to Badura et al.

4 Synopsis of Bandura et al. (1961) (1961), 70% of the children in the non-aggressive and control group had scores of zero showing no variance. Bandura et al. (1961) believed that imitative learning could possibly be a quicker way to induce novel behaviors than operant conditioning, originally proposed by behaviorist B. F. Skinner. This study supports the ideology that you can induce certain behaviors through observational learning/social imitation. More specifically, behaviors that had little to no chance of occurring in the first place. This study also shows that boys are more imitative than girls when displaying physical aggression, but the two do not differ in verbal aggression. This is maybe due to what their prior knowledge of societal normalcies (Bandura et al., 1961). It is also noted that there is more to be developed in theory of imitative learning. I believe the information from this study could be useful to help children learn other novel movements such as: brushing your teeth, riding a scooter, putting on shoes. This study proves that children can learn quickly through observation and imitation. In order to apply this knowledge in real life situations, simply model the behavior having your child observe and encouraging the same behavior firing up your child’s mirror neurons. Also, I hypothesize this study may also be evidence that a “do as I say, not as I do” approach is not effective when trying to bring forth desired behaviors in children. Parents might want to take heed to this information and attempt to be the role model they want their child to see.

5 Synopsis of Bandura et al. (1961)

References

Bandura, A., Ross, D., & Ross, S. A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63(3), 575–582. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0045925...