Describe and evaluate SLT as applied to human aggression. (6 marks)

In 1963, Bandura applied SLT to human aggression, acknowledging that aggressive behaviour can be learned directly, through operant conditioning, which involves positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment. An example of direct positive reinforcement is a child who angrily snatches a toy, learning that aggression brings rewards. Bandura also suggested that people learn most aggressive behaviours via observation and vicarious reinforcement. For example, a child observes role models (parents/media) being aggressive and works out how to perform aggressive behaviour. Children also observe the consequences of aggressive behaviour; if it is rewarded, the child learns that aggression can be effective in getting what they want, so are more likely to imitate this aggressive behaviour.  Observational learning requires four cognitive conditions; attention, retention, motor reproduction and motivation. Self- Efficacy is the extent to which we believe our actions will achieve a desired goal. A child’s confidence in their ability to be aggressive increases as they learn that aggression can bring rewards.  A strength of this explanation for aggression is that there is research to support the idea that children learn aggression through observational learning. Bandura developed this theory based off his research in 1961, where he studied 72 children aged 3-6. The IV (the type of model) was manipulated in three conditions: Firstly, an aggressive model was shown to 24 children, secondly, a non-aggressive model is shown to 24 children and the control condition had no model. Both experimental groups went through the same procedure, where the children individually observed an adult model playing with toys, including a Bobo doll. The aggressive role model aggressively threw and kicked the Bobo doll. The children were then taken to another room and observed by the experimenter. The results showed that the children with the aggressive model imitated more aggressive behaviour, including a direct imitation of some verbal aggression used. However, children in the non-aggressive model condition showed almost no aggression later.  Therefore, we can conclude that role models and learning influence aggression, which supports the main beliefs of SLT as applied to human aggression. However, although the confidentiality of the p’s names was maintained, the videos of the ps were available on the internet and there was a lack of informed consent, meaning that there are problematic ethical issues with this study. In addition, the theory is deterministic as it suggests that children just passively imitate behaviour with no free will and reductionist as it ignores any biological factors involved in aggression. There may also be a certain culture bias as Bandura was a western researcher researching western culture (imposed etic). Overall, this limits the generalisability and universality of using SLT to explain aggression.