Procedure: Children were randomly assigned to one of three groups: an aggressive model group, a non-aggressive model group, or a control group.
Learning Approach
Psychology Notes
A Level/AS Level/O Level
Learning Approach
Learning by Watching: The Power of Observational Learning
1. What is Observational Learning?
Observational learning, also known as social learning, is how we learn by watching and imitating others. Think about it: How did you learn to ride a bike? Did someone explain it to you, or did you watch someone else do it and then try it yourself? Observational learning is a powerful process that shapes our behavior, attitudes, and even our personality.
2. The Bobo Doll Experiment: A Classic Example
One of the most famous experiments on observational learning was conducted by Albert Bandura in the 1960s. It's called the "Bobo doll experiment" and it's pretty fascinating. Here's how it went:
-Procedure: Children were randomly assigned to one of three groups:
-Aggressive model group: They watched an adult aggressively attack a Bobo doll (a large inflatable clown doll). The adult punched, kicked, and even yelled at the doll.
-Non-aggressive model group: They watched an adult play with the Bobo doll in a calm, non-aggressive way.
-Control group: They didn't watch any adult play with the Bobo doll.
-Results: The children who watched the aggressive model were much more likely to be aggressive towards the Bobo doll themselves when they were given the chance to play with it. They mimicked the adult's behavior, punching, kicking, and even yelling at the doll. The children who watched the non-aggressive model or didn't watch anyone played with the doll in a more gentle manner.
3. Key Components of Observational Learning
There are four key components to observational learning, as per Bandura's theory:
-Attention: You need to pay attention to the model's behavior in order to learn from it. Imagine watching a video on how to make a perfect pizza, but you're also on your phone and not really paying attention. You probably wouldn't be able to make that pizza later.
-Retention: You need to remember what you observed. If you saw someone doing something cool but forgot the details, you wouldn't be able to replicate it.
-Reproduction: You need to be able to physically reproduce the behavior you observed. Think about learning a new dance move. It takes practice to get it right.
-Motivation: You need to have a reason for wanting to learn the observed behavior. If you don't care about learning to ride a skateboard, you probably won't put in the effort to practice.
4. Real-World Examples of Observational Learning
Observational learning is all around us. Here are some examples of how it works in our daily lives:
-Learning to drive: You learn to drive from watching your parents or driving instructor and then practicing.
-Cultural norms: We learn how to behave in different social situations by watching others. For example, how you act at a formal dinner party is different from how you act at a friend's house.
-Product endorsements: Celebrities endorsing products influence consumers to buy them, even if they haven't personally tried them.
-Violence on TV and video games: Studies suggest that exposure to violent media can increase aggression in children and teenagers.
5. Applications of Observational Learning
Understanding observational learning can be helpful in many areas:
-Parenting: Parents can use their own behavior to teach their children positive values and skills.
-Education: Teachers can use demonstrations and role-playing to help students learn new concepts and skills.
-Therapy: Therapists can use observational learning to help patients overcome fears and phobias. They might encourage the patient to watch someone else interact with the feared object or situation.
6. Important Note:
While observational learning is incredibly powerful, it's not always positive. We can learn negative behaviors too. That's why it's important to be selective about who we model our behavior after.
Bonus Notes
Essay Questions on Aggression:
1. Learning Approach:
⭐Positive Role Models: Children exposed to non-aggressive, prosocial role models are more likely to exhibit less aggression.
⭐Negative Role Models: Children exposed to aggressive role models, via parents, peers, or media, are more likely to learn and imitate aggressive behaviors.
⭐Inconsistency: Children exposed to inconsistent role models (aggressive and non-aggressive) may exhibit more difficulty regulating their own aggression.
2. Procedure:
⭐Ethical Considerations: Randomly assigning children to experimental groups raises concerns about potential harm. Children assigned to the "aggressive model" group may experience heightened aggression, even temporarily.
⭐Informed Consent: Parents must give informed consent to participate, understanding potential risks and benefits.
⭐Confidentiality: Children's identities and data must be kept confidential.
3. Variables:
⭐Independent Variable: Exposure to an aggressive or non-aggressive role model. This can be operationally defined by observing and quantifying the frequency and intensity of aggressive behaviors exhibited by the role model.
⭐Dependent Variable: Level of aggression in the child. This can be measured through observational techniques, questionnaires, or behavioral tasks designed to elicit aggressive responses.
4. Results:
⭐Bandura's Social Learning Theory: Predicts that children exposed to aggressive role models will exhibit more aggressive behaviors compared to those exposed to non-aggressive role models. This is due to observational learning, where children learn by observing and imitating others.
5. Applications:
⭐Understanding Aggression: This research can illuminate the influence of social learning on aggressive behavior in children.
⭐Prevention and Intervention: Findings can inform the development of intervention programs targeting children at risk for developing aggressive behaviors. This could involve providing positive role models, teaching conflict resolution skills, and promoting social-emotional learning.
⭐Media Literacy: The research highlights the importance of media literacy and carefully selecting media content for children to minimize exposure to aggressive models.