Albert Bandura
The Bobo doll experiment (1961)
Procedure 1. Children watched an adult model interact with a large inflatable Bobo doll 2. In one group, the adult **aggressively** hit, kicked, and verbally abused the doll 3. In another group, the adult played calmly 4. Children were then placed in a room with the Bobo doll and observed
Results - Children who watched the **aggressive model** were significantly more likely to act aggressively toward the doll — often imitating the EXACT behaviors they had observed - Children who watched the non-aggressive model showed little aggression - Children were more likely to imitate a **same-sex model**
What it proved - Learning can occur through **observation alone** — no direct reinforcement needed - Aggression can be learned through modeling - This has major implications for the effects of media violence on children
Bandura's four requirements for observational learning
Vicarious reinforcement and punishment
Bandura follow-up study
Prosocial and antisocial modeling
Prosocial effects
Antisocial effects
Mirror neurons
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Modeling in everyday life
Comparing all three types of learning
AP Exam Tips
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Common Mistakes
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