Understanding a Research Paper
Understanding a research paper
“During the 1960’s, there was a lot of concern and debate about whether a child’s development was down to genetics, environmental factors or social learning from others around them” (Shuttleworth, 2008). Children are surrounded by many influential people which have a great impact on their behaviour, both positive and negative, for example, “parents within the family, characters on children’s TV, friends within their peer group and teachers at school” (McLeod, 2011b). Albert Bandura believed that children are undoubtedly influenced by the behaviour they witness whether it is positive or negative actions. In this instance aggressive or non-aggressive behaviour. Albert Bandura, Dorothea Ross and Sheila A. Ross (1961), started their famous BoBo doll experiment in which they wanted to show “if social behaviours (i.e. aggression) can be acquired by imitation” (McLeod, 2011a). He aimed to show this by using actors showing aggressive and non aggressive behaviour towards an inflatable five foot tall doll.
Adults and peer groups have a big influence on how children behave, one aspect being through social learning. “In the modern world, there are many concerns about the effect of social influences on the development and growth of a child’s personality and morality” (Shuttleworth, 2008). Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory “states behaviour is learned from the environment through the process of observational learning. Children observe the people around them behaving in various ways” (McLeod, 2011b).
Bandura made several predictions about what could be the end results of his experiment. He predicted children who observed an adult acting aggressively towards another individual would be likely to act aggressively even when the adult role model was not around. He believed children are more likely to imitate models of the same sex rather than opposite sex models, boys are more likely to behave aggressively than girls and
“During the 1960’s, there was a lot of concern and debate about whether a child’s development was down to genetics, environmental factors or social learning from others around them” (Shuttleworth, 2008). Children are surrounded by many influential people which have a great impact on their behaviour, both positive and negative, for example, “parents within the family, characters on children’s TV, friends within their peer group and teachers at school” (McLeod, 2011b). Albert Bandura believed that children are undoubtedly influenced by the behaviour they witness whether it is positive or negative actions. In this instance aggressive or non-aggressive behaviour. Albert Bandura, Dorothea Ross and Sheila A. Ross (1961), started their famous BoBo doll experiment in which they wanted to show “if social behaviours (i.e. aggression) can be acquired by imitation” (McLeod, 2011a). He aimed to show this by using actors showing aggressive and non aggressive behaviour towards an inflatable five foot tall doll.
Adults and peer groups have a big influence on how children behave, one aspect being through social learning. “In the modern world, there are many concerns about the effect of social influences on the development and growth of a child’s personality and morality” (Shuttleworth, 2008). Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory “states behaviour is learned from the environment through the process of observational learning. Children observe the people around them behaving in various ways” (McLeod, 2011b).
Bandura made several predictions about what could be the end results of his experiment. He predicted children who observed an adult acting aggressively towards another individual would be likely to act aggressively even when the adult role model was not around. He believed children are more likely to imitate models of the same sex rather than opposite sex models, boys are more likely to behave aggressively than girls and
Bibliography: (Continued) McLeod, S., (2011b), Simply Psychology, Social Learning Theory Online available from: http://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html (Accessed on 14th June 2012) Shuttleworth, M., (2008), Experiment Resources, Bo Bo Doll experiment Online available from: http://www.experiment-resources.com/bobo-doll-experiment.html (Accessed on 14th June 2012) WOODS, B., (2008), Understanding Psychology, London, Hodder and Stoughton Educational