Chapter 1. MODELING: LEARNING BY OBSERVATION

Synopsis

Thomas E. Ludwig, Hope College

More than four decades ago, Albert Bandura and his colleagues conducted their now-classic experiments on observational learning and aggression. In this activity, you will view video clips from Bandura’s original Bobo experiments that show a model engaged in aggressive actions and children imitating the model. After observing the children’s behavior, you will identify the specific aggressive actions imitated by the children. The activity concludes with a discussion of Bandura’s findings on the general arousing effect of viewing aggression.

Introduction

More than four decades ago, Albert Bandura and his colleagues conducted their now-classic experiments on observational learning and aggression. These experiments used Bobo dolls—large inflatable dolls weighted with sand at the bottom—as the targets of aggression.

In Bandura’s initial experiment, some young children watched an adult model hit the Bobo doll in a variety of ways and make aggressive remarks to the doll. Other young children saw the doll but were not exposed to the model’s aggressive behavior. Later, the researchers intentionally frustrated the children by removing the toys that they had been playing with. The researchers then left the frustrated children alone with the Bobo doll and filmed their behavior through a one-way mirror.

Click to enlarge the following flow chart, which summarizes the results of Bandura's experiment.

Results from Bandura’s Experiment

These results show that direct rewards and punishments are not necessary for learning. Children can learn from modeling—that is, they learn to act aggressively just by watching another person’s behavior and can even learn specific novel behaviors from the model.

Click to enlarge the following flow chart, which summarizes the results of Bandura's experiment.

A Closer Look at Bandura’s Experiment

^{Play the video clip as often as you want, and then type your list of the model's behaviors into these response fields. When you have finished your list, move to the next page.}
Note: video has no audio.

Let’s break Bandura’s experiment into its components. First, you will examine the actions of the model in a video clip that is part of the original footage from Bandura’s research. As you watch the video, pay close attention to the model’s behavior.

A Closer Look at Bandura's Experiment (continued)

Hitting the doll with a hammer

Pushing and punching the doll with 1 or 2 fists

Throwing the doll into the air

Sitting astride the doll while punching it

Kicking the doll

Screenshot Credits: Courtesy of Albert Bandura © Worth Publishers

Here is the list of behaviors that you observed:

1.) No response entered.

2.) No response entered.

3.) No response entered.

4.) No response entered.

5.) No response entered.

Observing the Children Who Observed the Model

^{Play the video clip as often as you want, and then type your list of the boy’s behaviors into these response fields. When you have finished your list, move to the next page.}
Note: video has no audio.

You have seen the model's actions. Now let’s see how the children interacted with the Bobo doll after watching the model.

The next video shows more of the original video footage from Bandura's research. In this clip, you will see a young boy who participated in the experimental condition (exposed to the aggressive model). Pay close attention to his specific behaviors, and then list those behaviors in the response fields below.

The Boy’s Actions

Hitting the doll with a hammer

Punching the doll with 1 or 2 fists

Throwing the doll into the air

Sitting astride the doll while hitting it with a hammer

Kicking the doll

Screenshot Credits: Courtesy of Albert Bandura © Worth Publishers

Here is the list of behaviors that you observed:

1.) No response entered.

2.) No response entered.

3.) No response entered.

4.) No response entered.

5.) No response entered.

Observing Another Child

^{Play the video clip as often as you want, and then type your list of the girl’s behaviors into these response fields. When you have finished your list, move to the next page.}
Note: video has no audio.

Perhaps you were not surprised that the little boy imitated Bandura’s aggressive model, but would little girls do the same when put into a room with the Bobo doll? The next video clip, also from Bandura’s original footage, shows a young girl who participated in the experimental condition. Pay close attention to her specific behaviors, and then list those behaviors in the response fields below.

The Girl’s Actions

Hitting the doll with a hammer

Punching the doll with a fist

Throwing the doll into the air

Hitting the doll with a smaller doll

Pushing and holding doll down

Holding the doll down and hitting it with a hammer

Screenshot Credits: Courtesy of Albert Bandura © Worth Publishers

Here is the list of behaviors that you observed:

1.) No response entered.

2.) No response entered.

3.) No response entered.

4.) No response entered.

5.) No response entered.

Inventing Novel Behaviors

Note: video has no audio.

Assessment: Check Your Understanding

Assessment: Check Your Understanding

Assessment: Check Your Understanding

Assessment: Check Your Understanding

Assessment: Check Your Understanding