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Albert Bandura (1973) posits that aggressive behaviour is learned:

"The specific forms that aggressive behaviour takes, the frequency with which it is displayed, and the specific targets selected for attack are largely determined by social learning factors"

Observational Learning

Bandura, Ross, and Ross (1963) carried out a study of observational learning in which young children were shown adults interacting with a character called "Bobo Doll". In one film, the adults attacked Bobo, and in another they did not. Children were shown one of the two films.

The adults attacked Bobo in a distinctive manner - they used a hammer in some cases, and in others threw the doll in the air and shouted "Pow, Boom". As a result, they could be sure that if the behaviour was repeated, it was learned rather than spontaneous.

Later, Bandura (1965) carried out the same experiment, but showed the adult who behaved aggressively either being punished or rewarded.

Those children who had seen the adult rewarded, and those who had seen the adult neither rewarded or punished, behaved more aggressively than those who had seen the adult punished.

It could be that the children who had seen the adult punished simply couldn't remember how the adult had behaved. However, when Bandura rewarded all of the children for imitating the behaviour of the adult, this was shown not to be the case. Thus, all three groups of children had comparable levels of observational learning, but those who had seen the adult punished did not replicate the behaviour.

Evaluation and Criticism of Bandura's Social Learning Theory

Studies who show children imitate violent behaviour seen on television are consistent with social learning theory.

Critics of social learning theory point out the distinction between Bobo the doll and other children. Whilst children are quick to replicate aggression when the object is a doll, it is very rarely the case with another child.

Much of the aggression could have been seen as playfighting, rather than "authentic" aggression. Indeed, some suggest that the children were often playing rather than aggressing. Cumberbatch (1990) reports that children who were unfamiliar with the doll were five times more likely to imitate aggression than those who were familiar with the doll.

Others point out that the experiment seems artificial. Durkin (1995) points out that very rarely will an adult demonstrate how to attack something and then allow a child to have a go.

Finally, other psychologists suggest that aggression is more complex than social learning theory would have us believe. There are many other factors, such as "negative affect" and environment that can have an impact on the level of aggression exhibited.

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