Outline and Evaluate One or More Social Psychological Explanations of Aggression (24 Marks)

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Aggression is an action or series of actions where the aim is to cause harm to another person or object. Social learning theory states that aggressive behaviour is learned directly (operant conditioning) and indirectly (vicarious). For example, if someone gets something they want when they’re aggressive the action will be reinforced therefore likely to be repeated. And if a person sees their role model rewarded for an aggressive action the observer is likely to imitate that model. The model is most likely to be imitated if: the model is similar to the observer, the model is admired and/or the observer as low self-esteem. However this I s also dependant on previous experience of observed behaviour, current likelihood of aggressive behaviour being rewarded or punished and external factors like heat or noise – because if it’s too hot you’re probably already agitated which would in turn make you more aggressive. Bandura et al studied 66 nursery school children and split them into 3 groups. She showed them al a video where an adult model assaulted a bobo doll and commented aggressively. E.g. sat on it, punched it and said “Pow, right on the nose. Boom, boom.” The 3 conditions were all different; in condition one the clip ended after the person was being aggressive, in condition 2 the clip ended after another adult rewarded the model with sweets and 7up and the final condition was when the adult got told off for the aggressive behaviour. Condition 1 and 2 showed spontaneous, imitative aggressive acts however condition 2 was most aggressive and condition 3 was least aggressive. All children learned to be aggressive but condition three wasn’t motivated to be or show aggressiveness. This experiment supports SLT and shows aggressive behaviour is learnt through conservation, and whether aggression is reproduced will depend on whether any repercussions have been

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