Outline and Evaluate the Slt Theory of Aggression

Outline and evaluate The SLT theory of aggression.
Aggression is defined by Baron & Richardson (1993) as ‘any form of behaviour directed towards the goal of harming or injuring another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment’.
According to Social Learning Theory aggressive behaviour is developed through the environment (rather than being an innate tendency – as the biological and psychoanalytical theories would suggest).
If biological theories of aggression were faultless it would be expected that across various cultures, the levels of aggression would be similar. However, Mead (1935) found that there were cross-cultural differences in the levels of aggression amongst different societies with different social practices – this supports the social learning theory; that behaviour is learnt through observation of other people (models) which lead to imitation.
Bandura et al (1961) investigated observational learning by studying children’s reactions to observing a model behave aggressively towards an inflatable doll (Bobo doll). There were 3 conditions; an aggressive model, a non-aggressive model and a control condition with no model. After observation, all children were frustrated to increase their arousal (and thus aggression) through being denied a chance to play with toys. However, Bandura found that those in the aggressive model group showed significantly more imitations of the models aggression than the other groups. This demonstrates that aggression can be learnt via social interactions, thus supporting social learning theory. As it was a laboratory experiment cause and effect can be established. However, Bandura’s study has been criticised as having low ecological validity since
Bobo dolls are specifically designed to be hit so this may have encouraged children to do so. Cumberland (1990) found that children who were unfamiliar with the doll were sometimes more likely to imitate aggressive behaviour towards the doll than those who had not. Bandura’s study is also criticised for possible demand characteristics. Durkin also criticised Bandura for failing to distinguish between real aggression and play fighting. Although children may have hit the doll does not necessarily mean that they would replicate this aggression towards another human. Durkin’s findings have implications for the debate as to whether watching violent TV causes violence, since according to him, children can distinguish between play and reality. This would contradict the social learning theory that all types of media violence are modelled and imitated. Liebert and Baron (1972) contradicted Durkin since they found that children are more likely to hurt others after viewing violent behaviour. These findings are supported by
Walters and Thomas (1963) who found that those who had previously watched a violent scene selected higher shock intensities in a Milgram-type situation. This supports the theory of social learning.
Bandura (1965) furthered his studies into aggression through studying the effect of reinforcement on aggression. Vicarious reinforcement is when the model is seen to be rewarded. Bandura found that those who had seen the model rewarded or had not seen reinforcement had behaved more aggressively towards the doll than those who had seen the model punished. Bandura’s studies have been criticised for ethical reasons, since aggression was taught to the children.
These findings have external implications for the role of models (such as teachers and parents) in reducing aggressive behaviour, since through reinforcement of nonaggressive behaviour, aggressive tendencies can be reduced. Munroe supported these implications since he found that ‘aggression breeds aggression’ (high aggression occurs if children are aggressively punished). Patterson also supported this with findings that children from aggressive families modelled this aggressive behaviour.
However, these findings cannot be generalised as they do not take into account the individual differences involved and the way people are more aggressive in certain situations. Also, the studies into social learning theory only investigate short term aggression and do not investigate more long term consequences.