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So you want to assess ethical considerations?

Travis Dixon May 21, 2018 Research Methodology , Teaching Ideas

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One way of evaluating studies in psychology is to consider whether or not the study might have ethical issue s. When evaluating ethics, many students want to jump straight to condemning studies by saying something like, “This study was unethical because…” 

I would refrain from making such condemnations and using this definitive language because it’s often very hard to completely write-off a study as being “unethical.” A more accurate and appropriate way to say it, is that the study might have “ethical concerns,” “ethical issues” or “ethical considerations.”

Avoid making judgements about a study based on its ethics, because ethics are rarely black and white. For example, we can’t just say that because a study caused or could have caused psychological or physical harm, that it is unethical. What if that harm could reduce suffering and improve the lives of others?

Let’s look at the following questions and see when you start saying “No.”

• Is it OK to kill an ant if that will help find a cure for cancer?
• What about a rabbit?
• What about 1,000 rabbits?
• What about a chimpanzee?
• What about 1,000 chimpanzees?
• What about making 1 chimp suffer for years to find the cure?
• Would you kill a human to cure cancer?
• What about just running a 50% risk of killing them?
• A 0.000001% risk?

Studies on animals often make for good discussions about ethical considerations, which is why they’re now a requirement for the HL extensions.

You see, the “rules” surrounding what is ethical and unethical are not black and white. Moreover, not everyone will agree on what is ethical and what is unethical. We have to appreciate that there are grey areas and this is why we use phrases like issues, concerns or considerations.

You can also see that sometimes a level of harm or suffering can be justified, if it has the potential to benefit others. This is one of the key “issues” that researchers, review boards and psychologists have to consider.

How to explain an ethical concern/issue

If you’re explaining that one limitation of a study is that it has ethical issues, what you’re probably saying is that there is the study caused harm or suffering for others, whether it’s human or non-human animals (e.g. laboratory rats). Or, that there is (or was) the  potential  for harm or suffering. so in your explanation you need to make it clear  how the study caused harm and/or has the potential to cause harm.

Many students make the mistake of being too vague and brief when they explain the ethical issue. For example, here’s a common type of evaluation of Bandura’s Bobo Doll studies:

• One limitation of Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment is that it’s unethical because it used very young children as subjects.

So what? Lots of studies use young children. The Marshmallow test is a famous experimental paradigm that uses kids. Using kids is not inherently unethical, so this point needs explaining – what’s the reason why in this study it’s an ethical issue to use young kids? And that requires explaining the harm or potential for harm. So here’s what a better explanation would look like:

• One limitation of Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment is that it’s unethical  it has ethical issues because it used very young children as subjects. Bandura hypothesized that learning could happen through observation, and the results supported this. But who’s to say that the learned aggressive behaviour did not continue after the study? The experiment might have caused lasting beliefs in the children about aggression, which raises some concerns about ethics. It would be interesting to know if the parents signed informed consent forms, or if this study happened before this was a requirement. 

In the explanation above, the potential for harm is explained – the lasting impact of the research on the kids. It also doesn’t overstate the possible effects (e.g. maybe the kids could grow up to hate clowns and try to beat them up whenever they saw them).

The Belmont Report

The Bandura experiments also raise an interesting point about studies conducted before the Belmont Report (1978) , which outlines three core components of ethical research:

• Respect for persons
• Beneficence

Studies before this report, such as Bandura’s experiments, Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment or Milgram’s experiments on compliance with authority, could be judged to be unethical by today’s standards , based on the ethical guidelines set forth by psychological institutions (e.g. APA, BPS,  etc.). Even with these famously unethical studies, the phrase “by today’s standards” is still an important qualifier.

But it’s quite unlikely you’ll be using these old studies in your responses. It’s far more probable that you’ll be using more modern studies. These studies would have been approved by an ethics review committee before being conducted, so it’s unlikely that there will be the same obvious ethical issues as there are in the old studies. This is why I encourage you to get the judgement mentality out of your head and refer to ethical issues rather than declaring if a study was unethical or not.

You can actually lose marks by evaluating ethics

The problem with many students’ evaluations of ethical issues in studies is that  they are irrelevant to the question being asked.  Let’s look at this with a few example essay questions in IB Psychology:

• Evaluate social identity theory.
• Discuss the effect of one hormone on human behaviour.
• Discuss the use of one research method used to study cultural origins of behaviour.
• Discuss one bias in thinking and decision making.

Evaluating ethics in studies is not something I actively encourage my students to do for essays, because it’s often not relevant.

Evaluating the ethical issues raised in a particular study is of little or no relevance to any of these questions. Why not? Well let’s take a look:

• This question wants you to evaluate  the theory – evaluating the evidence is one way of evaluating the theory, but the ethics of the evidence (i.e. study) is of marginal relevance to its effect on the validity of the theory.
• You should be discussing the effect of the hormone, not the ethics of the supporting evidence – this would be of marginal relevance and there are much better points to make.
• For this question, you could explain common ethical issues  with the method , but explaining issues in the supporting study would once again be of marginal relevance.
• Similar to the answers above – you are discussing the bias, not the supporting evidence.

If you start explaining ethical issues about the study when the study is not the focus of the question, something else is, you run the risk of losing marks for not being “focused on the question.” 

When is it a good idea to assess ethics?

The only time I would strongly encourage you to explain ethical issues relevant to a particular study is when you’re asked a “One study related to…” type question in an essay – not in a SAQ.

For example:

• Discuss one study related to neuroplasticity.
• Evaluate one study related to prosocial behaviour.
• Evaluate research (theories or studies) related to genes and behaviour.

When you are explicitly asked to evaluate or discuss a study in relation to a particular topic, then it’s a good idea to explain ethical issues. But even then, you can still write excellent answers without worrying about ethics.

This video explains the five types of IB Psychology exam questions…

The last word…

Evaluating a study by explaining it has limitations because of its ethical issues requires you to carefully consider how the study caused harm or had (or has) the potential to cause harm. This is often very difficult, especially when discussing modern studies because they have to pass strict ethics review boards.

I don’t discourage my own students from assessing ethics in essays, but I also don’t actively encourage it either. Like anything, if it’s relevant to the question and you think you have a good point to make, then go for it. But also remember that you are showing your  critical thinking  – don’t just write the first thing that comes to mind or go to the easy default of saying a study was unethical. Think carefully and explain concisely.

Feel free to leave any questions in the comments.

Travis Dixon is an IB Psychology teacher, author, workshop leader, examiner and IA moderator.

The Impact of the Bobo Doll Experiment on Psychology

The Bobo Doll Experiment, conducted by Albert Bandura in the 1960s, aimed to investigate the role of observational learning in shaping behavior, particularly aggression in children. The results of the study had a groundbreaking impact on psychology, supporting theories of social learning and challenging traditional beliefs about the development of aggressive behavior in children.

Despite sparking controversies and criticisms, the experiment has been replicated and studied extensively, shaping our modern understanding of child development and the influence of social factors on behavior.

• The Bobo Doll Experiment was a groundbreaking study that examined the impact of observation and aggression on children’s behavior.
• The experiment supported the idea that children learn through observation and modeling, and challenged traditional beliefs about aggression in children.
• Despite its criticisms, the Bobo Doll Experiment has influenced modern understanding of child development and continues to be studied and replicated in various forms.
• 1 What Is the Bobo Doll Experiment?
• 2 Who Conducted the Bobo Doll Experiment?
• 3 What Was the Purpose of the Bobo Doll Experiment?
• 4.1 What Were the Key Findings of the Experiment?
• 5.1 What Theories Did the Experiment Support?
• 5.2 How Did It Change the Perception of Aggression in Children?
• 5.3 What Controversies Did the Experiment Spark?
• 6 What are the Criticisms of the Bobo Doll Experiment?
• 7 How Has the Experiment Been Replicated and Studied Since?
• 8 What Lessons Can Be Learned from the Bobo Doll Experiment?
• 9 How Has the Experiment Shaped Modern Understanding of Child Development?
• 10.1 What is the Bobo Doll Experiment and how did it impact psychology?
• 10.2 How did the results of the Bobo Doll Experiment challenge traditional behaviorist theories?
• 10.3 What were some of the ethical concerns raised about the Bobo Doll Experiment?
• 10.4 How has the Bobo Doll Experiment influenced the study of media and its effects on behavior?
• 10.5 What effect did the Bobo Doll Experiment have on the field of child development?
• 10.6 Has the Bobo Doll Experiment been replicated and what were the results?

What Is the Bobo Doll Experiment?

The Bobo Doll Experiment is a landmark study that investigated the influence of aggressive models on children’s behavior through observational learning.

Conducted by renowned psychologist Albert Bandura in 1961, the experiment featured a group of children who observed an adult aggressively interacting with a large inflatable Bobo doll. The children were then placed in a room with toys, including the Bobo doll, and their behavior was observed. The results showed that children who witnessed the aggressive behavior were more likely to replicate it, displaying physical and verbal aggression towards the doll. This study highlighted the power of modeling in shaping children’s behavior and the role of environmental influences on aggression.

Who Conducted the Bobo Doll Experiment?

The Bobo Doll Experiment was conducted by the renowned psychologist Albert Bandura at Stanford University in California, United States.

Albert Bandura’s groundbreaking research focused on observational learning and social cognitive theory. His study aimed to investigate how behavior, particularly aggressive behavior, can be acquired through observation and imitation.

The experiment involved children observing an adult model displaying aggressive behavior towards a Bobo doll, which then lead to the children replicating the same behavior. Bandura’s work highlighted the significant impact of **modeling** on learning and behavior, challenging traditional behaviorist theories that primarily focused on reinforcement and punishment.

What Was the Purpose of the Bobo Doll Experiment?

The primary objective of the Bobo Doll Experiment was to explore how children imitate and learn aggressive behaviors by observing adult models interact with a Bobo doll .

The experiment aimed to investigate the concept of observational learning and its role in shaping behavior. Through carefully designed scenarios, researchers observed how children not only mimicked the aggressive actions they witnessed but also exhibited additional forms of aggression towards the doll.

The study delved into the process of imitation and how it is influenced by factors such as the gender of the model and the consequences of the demonstrated behavior. This exploration provided valuable insights into the mechanisms behind behavior modeling in young individuals.

What Were the Results of the Bobo Doll Experiment?

The Bobo Doll Experiment yielded significant results, showcasing the impact of observational learning on children’s aggressive tendencies when exposed to aggressive model groups .

The experiment revealed that children who observed aggressive behavior from adult models were more likely to imitate and display similar aggressive actions towards the Bobo Doll compared to those who were exposed to non-aggressive models or no model at all.

The study highlighted that the level of aggression in children was directly correlated with the intensity and frequency of aggressive actions witnessed, emphasizing the influence of social learning on behavior.

Interestingly, when children were placed in environments where aggression was met with positive reinforcement, their aggressive tendencies significantly increased, underscoring the importance of modeling behavior in shaping children’s actions and attitudes.

What Were the Key Findings of the Experiment?

The key findings of the Bobo Doll Experiment by Albert Bandura revealed a direct link between exposure to aggressive models and engaging in similar aggressive acts. For more information, you can explore The Impact of the Bobo Doll Experiment on Psychology .

This pioneering experiment provided significant insights into the concept of observational learning and its impact on behavior. The children who witnessed adults displaying aggressive behavior towards the Bobo doll were more likely to replicate these actions themselves. Bandura’s seminal work challenged traditional psychoanalytic critiques that solely attributed behavior to internal drives, highlighting the role of environmental factors.

How Did the Bobo Doll Experiment Impact Psychology?

The Bobo Doll Experiment made a profound impact on the field of psychology by strengthening the foundation of social learning theory and emphasizing the role of observational learning in behavior acquisition.

Through its demonstration of how individuals can learn new behaviors simply by observing others, the Bobo Doll Experiment challenged traditional behaviorist theories that solely focused on direct reinforcement and punishment. The findings paved the way for a deeper understanding of how social interactions, modeling, and vicarious reinforcement contribute significantly to behavior development.

This landmark study highlighted the importance of cognitive factors in learning, shifting the focus towards internal mental processes that mediate between stimuli and responses, a key aspect in the evolution of cognitive psychology. The experiment sparked further research into human behavior and influenced the development of key psychological concepts related to social learning and cognitive processes.

What Theories Did the Experiment Support?

The Bobo Doll Experiment supported Albert Bandura’s social learning theory by demonstrating the impact of aggressive models on behavior, contributing significantly to the field of psychology.

Bandura’s social learning theory posits that individuals learn behavior through observation, imitation, and modeling of others, encompassing both positive and negative reinforcement mechanisms.

In the context of the Bobo Doll Experiment, children observing aggressive adult models were more likely to exhibit similar aggressive behaviors towards the doll, indicating a direct correlation between observed behavior and subsequent actions.

This research not only highlighted the power of observational learning but also underscored the importance of environmental influences on shaping individual behavior patterns, a fundamental tenet of Bandura’s theory.

How Did It Change the Perception of Aggression in Children?

The Bobo Doll Experiment revolutionized the understanding of aggression in children, shedding light on the impact of observational learning and the role of gender in aggressive behavior.

By showcasing how children imitate aggressive behaviors they witness, Bandura’s study highlighted the significant role of observational learning in shaping behavior. The results revealed that children exposed to aggressive models were more likely to engage in similar behaviors towards the Bobo doll, illustrating a direct link between observation and replication of aggression. The experiment introduced the idea that gender can play a pivotal role in how aggression is expressed, with boys typically displaying more overt aggression compared to girls.

What Controversies Did the Experiment Spark?

The Bobo Doll Experiment sparked controversies within the psychoanalytic community, with critics such as Margaret Howell challenging its implications and raising Lacanian notions on behavior development.

Howell’s critique focused on the idea that the experiment’s emphasis on direct observation and imitation overlooked the complex interplay of unconscious desires and societal influences on behavior.

She argued that the experiment’s findings failed to consider the symbolic nature of aggression, a central concept in Lacanian psychoanalysis.

This perspective highlighted the limitations of purely behavioral interpretations and called for a more nuanced understanding of how internal drives intersect with external stimuli in shaping human actions.

What are the Criticisms of the Bobo Doll Experiment?

The Bobo Doll Experiment faced criticisms related to the interpretation of aggressive acts and conflicting views stemming from psychoanalytic perspectives on child development.

One of the critiques directed at the experiment was the debate surrounding the definition of ‘aggressive acts’ — some argued that behavior like hitting the Bobo Doll was a manifestation of aggression, while others viewed it as a form of playful interaction.

Within contrasting psychoanalytic perspectives , Sigmund Freud’s theory emphasized the role of the unconscious mind in shaping behavior, while Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory highlighted the importance of social interactions in childhood development.

These varied viewpoints contributed to the ongoing discourse around the implications of observing and interpreting aggressive behaviors in children.

How Has the Experiment Been Replicated and Studied Since?

Since its inception, the Bobo Doll Experiment has been replicated and studied extensively, exploring variations in aggression modeling and responses to mild traumatic situations.

Researchers, building upon Bandura’s influential work, have implemented modified scenarios to analyze the impact of observational learning on aggressive behaviors across different age groups and cultural backgrounds. Various studies have delved into the effects of media exposure on imitation of violence, drawing parallels to Bandura’s findings. Recent investigations have incorporated technology to observe responses to virtual simulations of aggressive interactions, providing further insights into the nuanced mechanisms behind behavior reproduction under mild traumatic conditions.

What Lessons Can Be Learned from the Bobo Doll Experiment?

The Bobo Doll Experiment imparts valuable lessons on the impact of observational learning and challenges traditional psychoanalytic views on behavior acquisition, echoing themes from Ferenczi and other psychoanalysts.

The groundbreaking Bobo Doll Experiment conducted by Albert Bandura in 1961 demonstrated the power of observational learning in shaping behavior, especially among children.

Contrary to traditional psychoanalytic perspectives that attribute behavior solely to internal drives and unconscious processes, Bandura’s work highlighted the role of external influences and social interactions in behavior development.

Observational learning , as observed in the experiment, occurs when individuals replicate behaviors they have witnessed in others, without the need for direct reinforcement or punishment.

This concept challenges the fundamental principles of psychoanalytic theories, where behavior is often explained through intrapsychic conflicts and early childhood experiences.

How Has the Experiment Shaped Modern Understanding of Child Development?

The Bobo Doll Experiment has played a pivotal role in shaping the contemporary comprehension of child development, influencing perspectives endorsed by figures like Anna Freud and modern sources such as Verywell Mind.

The groundbreaking Bobo Doll Experiment conducted by Albert Bandura in 1961 cemented its place in the psychology of child development. Through this experiment, Bandura demonstrated the profound impact of observational learning on aggressive behavior in children, challenging traditional behaviorist theories.

The implications of this study reverberated not only in academic circles but also in practical applications, shaping parenting techniques and educational methodologies. Anna Freud, the prominent psychoanalyst and daughter of Sigmund Freud, acknowledged the experiment’s valuable insights into the influences of environmental factors on children’s behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the bobo doll experiment and how did it impact psychology.

The Bobo Doll Experiment was a study conducted by psychologist Albert Bandura in 1961 to examine the influence of social learning on aggressive behavior. It showed that individuals can learn and imitate aggressive behavior through observation, leading to a significant impact on the field of psychology.

How did the results of the Bobo Doll Experiment challenge traditional behaviorist theories?

The traditional behaviorist theories at the time believed that behavior was solely determined by reinforcement and punishment. However, the results of the Bobo Doll Experiment showed that behavior can also be influenced by observation and imitation, leading to a shift towards a more cognitive approach to understanding behavior.

What were some of the ethical concerns raised about the Bobo Doll Experiment?

Some ethical concerns raised about the Bobo Doll Experiment include the use of children as participants without informed consent from their parents, as well as the potential harm caused to the children who were exposed to aggressive behavior. These concerns led to stricter ethical guidelines for conducting research with human participants.

How has the Bobo Doll Experiment influenced the study of media and its effects on behavior?

The Bobo Doll Experiment has been used as a basis for studying the influence of media, specifically violent media, on behavior. It has been cited in numerous studies and has played a significant role in understanding the impact of media on children and adults.

What effect did the Bobo Doll Experiment have on the field of child development?

The Bobo Doll Experiment highlighted the importance of the environment in shaping a child’s behavior and understanding how they learn and process information. It also brought attention to the role of parents and caregivers in modeling behavior for children.

Has the Bobo Doll Experiment been replicated and what were the results?

The Bobo Doll Experiment has been replicated multiple times with similar results, further solidifying its impact on psychology. These replications have also helped to refine and improve the experiment, leading to a better understanding of the role of social learning in behavior.

Lena Nguyen, an industrial-organizational psychologist, specializes in employee engagement, leadership development, and organizational culture. Her consultancy work has helped businesses build stronger teams and create environments that promote innovation and efficiency. Lena’s articles offer a fresh perspective on managing workplace dynamics and harnessing the potential of human capital in achieving business success.

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Mimicking Aggression: Insights from The Albert Bandura Bobo Doll Experiment

By amelia sinclair, this article is divided into the following sections:.

The Bobo Doll Experiment, conducted by Albert Bandura in the early 1960s, has become a landmark study in understanding observational learning and social behavior. This experiment sought to investigate how children learn and replicate behaviors, particularly aggression, by observing others. By examining the methodology, findings, and implications of the Bobo Doll Experiment, we can gain insights into the mechanisms of learning and the influence of observed behaviors on human actions.

Methodology and Design

Albert Bandura designed the Bobo Doll Experiment to explore the effects of observational learning on children’s behavior. He selected preschool-aged children from Stanford University’s nursery school and exposed them to different adult models displaying varying behaviors towards an inflatable Bobo doll. These adult models were classified into three groups based on their interactions with the doll: aggressive, non-aggressive, and a control group with no exposure to a model.

Children in the aggressive model group observed adults engaging in physically and verbally aggressive actions towards the Bobo doll, such as hitting, kicking, and shouting at it. In the non-aggressive model group, children watched adults interacting peacefully with the doll, while those in the control group experienced no adult model interaction. After viewing the models, the children were placed in a room with a Bobo doll and other toys to observe whether they would imitate the behaviors they had witnessed.

The experiment’s design aimed to isolate the impact of observational learning on behavior, providing empirical evidence on how children internalize and replicate actions based on their observations.

Key Findings

The results of the Bobo Doll Experiment were both illuminating and concerning. Bandura found that children who observed the aggressive model were significantly more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors towards the Bobo doll compared to those in the non-aggressive and control groups. These children not only imitated the specific aggressive actions they had seen but also displayed novel forms of aggression, demonstrating the powerful influence of the observed model.

Conversely, children who observed the non-aggressive model or were part of the control group showed much lower levels of aggression, confirming the role of observational learning in shaping behavior. The findings underscored the idea that children are highly impressionable and readily adopt behaviors exhibited by adults, particularly when such behaviors are perceived as permissible or rewarded.

These results provided compelling evidence for Bandura’s social learning theory, which posits that behavior is learned through observation, imitation, and modeling. The Bobo Doll Experiment demonstrated that children do not need direct reinforcement to learn new behaviors; instead, they can acquire and replicate actions simply by watching others.

Psychological Mechanisms and Implications

The Bobo Doll Experiment illuminated several psychological mechanisms underlying observational learning . One key factor is the concept of vicarious reinforcement, where individuals observe the consequences of others’ actions and adjust their behavior accordingly. When children witness a model being rewarded for aggressive behavior, they are more likely to imitate that behavior, anticipating similar rewards.

Another important mechanism is identification, whereby children identify with the observed model and internalize their actions as part of their own behavioral repertoire. This process is influenced by various factors, including the perceived similarity between the observer and the model, the model’s status, and the observer’s previous experiences and reinforcement history.

These insights have profound implications for understanding the development of social behavior and the broader field of learning psychology. The findings emphasize the importance of role models and the environments in which children are raised. Positive and negative behaviors are both readily learned through observation, highlighting the need for careful consideration of the influences children are exposed to in their formative years.

Ethical Considerations

While the Bobo Doll Experiment provided valuable insights into observational learning, it also raised ethical considerations related to the induction of aggressive behavior in children. The experiment involved exposing young children to aggressive actions and observing their subsequent behavior, which could potentially normalize aggression and have lasting effects on their social interactions.

Modern ethical standards emphasize the importance of minimizing harm and ensuring the well-being of research participants. Researchers are now required to obtain informed consent from participants or their guardians, provide debriefing, and ensure that any induced behaviors do not have adverse long-term effects. The ethical controversies surrounding the Bobo Doll Experiment have contributed to the development of stricter guidelines to protect participants, especially vulnerable populations like children.

Broader Societal Impact

The insights gained from the Bobo Doll Experiment have had significant implications for various domains, including education, media, and public policy. Understanding the impact of observational learning on behavior can inform strategies to promote positive behaviors and mitigate negative influences, particularly in children.

In educational settings, recognizing the importance of role models can guide the development of curricula and interventions that emphasize positive behaviors and social skills. Educators can create environments that encourage cooperation, empathy, and prosocial behavior, helping students develop healthy social interactions.

The findings of the Bobo Doll Experiment have also informed debates on the influence of media on behavior. The study highlighted the potential for violent media content, such as television shows, movies, and video games, to shape aggressive behaviors in viewers, particularly children. Policymakers and media producers can use this knowledge to implement regulations and create content that promotes positive social norms and reduces exposure to harmful behaviors.

On a broader societal level, the Bobo Doll Experiment underscores the importance of fostering supportive and nurturing environments that provide positive role models for children. Community programs, parenting practices, and policies can be designed to reinforce constructive behaviors and reduce the risk of aggression and antisocial actions.

Theoretical Contributions

The Bobo Doll Experiment has made significant contributions to psychological theories, particularly in understanding the mechanisms of learning and behavior. It provided empirical support for Bandura’s social learning theory, illustrating the critical role of observational learning in shaping behavior.

The study also contributed to the broader discourse on cognitive and behavioral psychology, highlighting the interplay between observation, cognition, and action. By elucidating the psychological processes underlying imitation and modeling, the Bobo Doll Experiment has informed theoretical frameworks and research on learning, motivation, and socialization.

The Bobo Doll Experiment conducted by Albert Bandura remains a cornerstone in the study of observational learning and social behavior . Through its innovative design and rigorous methodology, the experiment revealed the powerful impact of observed behaviors on children’s actions, demonstrating how aggression and other behaviors are learned through imitation.

The study highlights the importance of positive role models and supportive environments in promoting healthy social behaviors, emphasizing the need for thoughtful and ethical approaches to influencing behavior. Ultimately, the Bobo Doll Experiment serves as a reminder of the influence of observation on human behavior and the responsibility of society to shape that influence constructively.

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Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment on Social Learning

Saul McLeod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

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Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

During the 1960s, Albert Bandura conducted a series of experiments on observational learning , collectively known as the Bobo doll experiments. Two of the experiments are described below:

Bandura (1961) conducted a controlled experiment study to investigate if social behaviors (i.e., aggression) can be acquired by observation and imitation.

Bandura, Ross, and Ross (1961) tested 36 boys and 36 girls from the Stanford University Nursery School aged between 3 to 6 years old.

The researchers pre-tested the children for how aggressive they were by observing the children in the nursery and judged their aggressive behavior on four 5-point rating scales.

It was then possible to match the children in each group so that they had similar levels of aggression in their everyday behavior. The experiment is, therefore, an example of a matched pairs design .

To test the inter-rater reliability of the observers, 51 of the children were rated by two observers independently, and their ratings were compared. These ratings showed a very high-reliability correlation (r = 0.89), which suggested that the observers had a good agreement about the behavior of the children.

A lab experiment was used, in which the independent variable (the type of model) was manipulated in three conditions:

• Aggressive model is shown to 24 children
• Non-aggressive model is shown to 24 children
• No model is shown (control condition) – 24 children

Stage 1: Modeling

In the experimental conditions, children were individually shown into a room containing toys and played with some potato prints and pictures in a corner for 10 minutes while either:

• 24 children (12 boys and 12 girls) watched a male or female model behaving aggressively towards a toy called a “Bobo doll”. The adults attacked the Bobo doll in a distinctive manner – they used a hammer in some cases, and in others threw the doll in the air and shouted “Pow, Boom.”
• Another 24 children (12 boys and 12 girls) were exposed to a non-aggressive model who played in a quiet and subdued manner for 10 minutes (playing with a tinker toy set and ignoring the bobo-doll).
• The final 24 children (12 boys and 12 girls) were used as a control group and not exposed to any model at all.

Stage 2: Aggression Arousal

All the children (including the control group) were subjected to “mild aggression arousal.” Each child was (separately) taken to a room with relatively attractive toys.

As soon as the child started to play with the toys, the experimenter told the child that these were the experimenter’s very best toys and she had decided to reserve them for the other children.

Stage 3: Test for Delayed Imitation

• The next room contained some aggressive toys and some non-aggressive toys. The non-aggressive toys included a tea set, crayons, three bears and plastic farm animals. The aggressive toys included a mallet and peg board, dart guns, and a 3 foot Bobo doll.
• The child was in the room for 20 minutes, and their behavior was observed and rated though a one-way mirror. Observations were made at 5-second intervals, therefore, giving 240 response units for each child.
• Other behaviors that didn’t imitate that of the model were also recorded e.g., punching the Bobo doll on the nose.
• Children who observed the aggressive model made far more imitative aggressive responses than those who were in the non-aggressive or control groups.
• There was more partial and non-imitative aggression among those children who had observed aggressive behavior, although the difference for non-imitative aggression was small.
• The girls in the aggressive model condition also showed more physically aggressive responses if the model was male, but more verbally aggressive responses if the model was female. However, the exception to this general pattern was the observation of how often they punched Bobo, and in this case the effects of gender were reversed.
• Boys were more likely to imitate same-sex models than girls. The evidence for girls imitating same-sex models is not strong.
• Boys imitated more physically aggressive acts than girls. There was little difference in verbal aggression between boys and girls.

Bobo doll experiment demonstrated that children are able to learn social behavior such as aggression through the process of observation learning, through watching the behavior of another person. The findings support Bandura’s (1977) Social Learning Theory .

This study has important implications for the effects of media violence on children.

There are three main advantages of the experimental method .

• Experiments are the only means by which cause and effect can be established. Thus, it could be demonstrated that the model did have an effect on the child’s subsequent behavior because all variables other than the independent variable are controlled.
• It allows for precise control of variables. Many variables were controlled, such as the gender of the model, the time the children observed the model, the behavior of the model, and so on.
• Experiments can be replicated. Standardized procedures and instructions were used, allowing for replicability. In fact, the study has been replicated with slight changes, such as using video, and similar results were found (Bandura, 1963).

Limitations of the procedure include:

• Many psychologists are very critical of laboratory studies of imitation – in particular, because they tend to have low ecological validity. The situation involves the child and an adult model, which is a very limited social situation and there is no interaction between the child and the model at any point; certainly the child has no chance to influence the model in any way.
• Also, the model and the child are strangers. This, of course, is quite unlike “normal” modeling, which often takes place within the family.
• Cumberbatch (1990) found that children who had not played with a Bobo Doll before were five times as likely to imitate the aggressive behavior than those who were familiar with it; he claims that the novelty value of the doll makes it more likely that children will imitate the behavior.
• A further criticism of the study is that the demonstrations are measured almost immediately. With such snapshot studies, we cannot discover if such a single exposure can have long-term effects.
• It is possible to argue that the bobo doll experiment was unethical. For example, there is the problem of whether or not the children suffered any long-term consequences as a result of the study. Although it is unlikely, we can never be certain.

Vicarious Reinforcement Bobo Doll Study

An observer’s behavior can also be affected by the positive or negative consequences of a model’s behavior.

So we not only watch what people do, but we watch what happens when they do things. This is known as vicarious reinforcement. We are more likely to imitate behavior that is rewarded and refrain from behavior that is punished.

Bandura (1965) used a similar experimental set up to the one outlined above to test vicarious reinforcement. The experiment had different consequences for the model’s aggression to the three groups of children.

One group saw the model’s aggression being rewarded (being given sweets and a drink for a “championship performance,” another group saw the model being punished for the aggression (scolded), and the third group saw no specific consequences (control condition).

When allowed to enter the playroom, children in the reward and control conditions imitated more aggressive actions of the model than did the children in the punishment condition.

The children in the model punished group had learned the aggression by observational learning, but did not imitate it because they expected negative consequences.

Reinforcement gained by watching another person is known as vicarious reinforcement.

Bandura, A. (1965). Influence of models” reinforcement contingencies on the acquisition of imitative responses . Journal of personality and social psychology, 1(6) , 589.

Bandura, A., Ross, D. & Ross, S.A. (1961). Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models .  Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology , 63, 575-82.

Bandura, A., Ross, D., & Ross, S. A. (1963). Imitation of film-mediated aggressive models . The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology , 66(1), 3.

Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory . Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

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Social cognitive theory is developed by the renowned Canadian psychologist Albert Bandura. He is well known for the classic “Bobo doll experiment”.

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Communication Theory

Bobo Doll Studies

Unraveling Aggression: The Bobo Doll Studies

In the early 1960s, psychologist Albert Bandura conducted a groundbreaking series of experiments that would forever alter our perception of how aggression is learned. These studies, collectively known as the  Bobo doll experiments , revealed that children can acquire aggressive behaviors through observation and imitation. But what exactly did Bandura discover, and how does it shape our understanding of social learning? Let’s delve into the fascinating world of the Bobo doll studies and explore their implications for human behavior.

The Bobo doll experiments demonstrated that children are not passive recipients of their environment; rather, they actively absorb social cues and behaviors from those around them. By observing adults interacting with an inflatable doll named Bobo, children learned to mimic aggressive actions. These findings have far-reaching implications, shedding light on media influence, interpersonal violence, and the role of modeling in shaping our behavior.

Stay tuned as we unravel the intricacies of Bandura’s research and delve deeper into the mechanisms behind learned aggression.

Key Definition:

Albert Bandura’s Bobo doll studies were a series of experiments conducted in the 1960s to investigate the effects of observational learning on aggressive behavior in children. During these studies, children were exposed to adult models who displayed aggressive behavior towards a Bobo doll, a large inflatable doll designed for play. Bandura demonstrated that children who observed these aggressive actions were more likely to imitate the behavior when given the opportunity to interact with the Bobo doll themselves. This research contributed to the understanding of social learning theory and the role of observational learning in shaping behavior.

The Bobo Doll Experiment 

Albert Bandura (1925-2021), internationally recognized as one of the most influential psychologists, was one of the pioneers of social learning theory. In a 1961, Bandura published one of his more famous studies, involving children observing adult aggression on an inflatable doll named Bobo ( Ozer, 2022 ).

In Bandura’s experiments, a child would be playing in a room when an adult would enter the room and become aggressive with a blow-up Bobo doll. Later, when the child was left alone, he or she would generally imitate the aggressive behavior of the adult, aggressively attacking the doll ​( Graham & Arshad-Ayaz, 2016 ). Bandura believed that once children learn that aggressive behavior is appropriate, and can also be rewarding, they are more likely to act aggressively during conflict ( Drewes, 2008 ).

Observational Learning

Bandura’s findings sought more complex answers than simple observational learning. By the time of Bandura’s Bobo doll experiments social learning had been well established. Bandura was digging a little deeper into the nuts and bolts of observational learning.

While Bandura’s findings challenged “established behavioral doctrine that human behavior was the result of conditioning through direct positive and negative  reinforcement and trial and error” ( Ozer, 2022 ). Basically, Bandura wanted to show the impact of positive and negative reinforcements through observational learning.

In another Bobo doll experiment published in 1965 , Bandura showed preschoolers a video of an adult expressing aggression on a Bobo doll and using distinct words along with his aggression, such as “Pow! Right in the nose. Boom! Boom!”

In this experiment, “children observed a film-mediated model who exhibited novel physical and verbal aggressive responses.” Bandura then added consequences. “in one treatment condition the model was severely punished; in a second, the model was generously rewarded; while the third condition presented no response consequences to the model” ( Bandura, 1965, p. 590 ).

As predicted, children that observed the model rewarded for aggression were far more likely to imitate the aggression than children who observed the model punished. However, children that observed no response consequence also reproduced the behavior at a high rate. Children reproduced the words associated with the aggression at a far diminished rate compared to the behaviors. Bandura explains that “the rate, amount, and complexity of stimuli presented to the observer may partly determine the degree of imitative learning” ( p. 593 ).

Complex Stimuli and Subjective Conclusions

​However, learning from complex stimuli requires interpretations, a higher order function. Bandura explains, “responses of higher order complexity are produced by combinations of previously learned components which may, in themselves, represent relatively complicated behavioral patterns.” Bandura continues, “a person who possess a very narrow repertoire of behavior, for example, will, in all probability, display only fragmentary imitation of a model’s behavior” ( Bandura, 1965, p. 594 ).

Perhaps, this partly explains why the preschoolers, with weaker verbal skills, were less likely to reproduce the language accompanying the aggression. Despite the ambiguity of meaning from the complexity, I find the conclusions intriguing.

Bobo Doll Experiment Implications

​The Bobo doll studies imply violence is transmitted through observation. Children in abusive households may learn unintended lessons about the appropriateness of aggression, carrying on violent tendencies into adulthood. Others cite the Bobo doll experiment findings in concerns over the impact of violent media.

​Albert Bandura theorized that, “virtually all learning resulting from direct experience can also occur on a vicarious basis by observing the behavior of others and its consequences.” He continues,  “the capacity to learn by observation enables organisms to acquire large, integrated patterns of behavior without having to form them gradually by tedious trial and error” ( Bandura, 1978 ).

Roy Baumeister and John Tierney commented on strict parenting, explaining that “researchers have found that severity seems to matter remarkably little and can even be counterproductive: Instead of encouraging virtue, harsh punishments teach the child that life is cruel and that aggression is appropriate” ( Baumeister & Tierney, 2012. Kindle location: 2,910 ).

Research empirically supports social learning, suggesting it plays a significant role in child social development.

Associated Concepts

Some key related concepts to these experiments are:

• Social Learning Theory (SLT) : Proposed by psychologist Albert Bandura, SLT emphasizes that people learn new behaviors by observing and imitating others. It serves as a bridge between traditional behaviorism and cognitive approaches. Unlike Skinner, Bandura believed that humans actively process information and consider the relationship between their behavior and its consequences. SLT highlights the importance of observational learning, where individuals acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs by watching others’ actions and the resulting consequences.
• Modeling : A central component of SLT, is modeling. It involves learning through observation and copying the behavior of someone.
• Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis : This Hypothesis posits that frustration often leads to aggressive behavior. When individuals are blocked from achieving a goal or fulfilling a need, it can generate a state of frustration, which in turn increases the likelihood of aggressive responses.
• Mediating Processes : These cognitive factors intervene in the learning process to determine whether a new response is acquired. Four mediational processes proposed by Bandura include attention (observing behavior), retention (forming a mental representation), reproduction (imitating behavior), and motivation (considering the consequences).
• Vicarious Reinforcement : Bandura showed that aggressive tendencies, especially in children, are vicariously reinforced by seeing others rewarded for or benefiting from their aggressive behavior. This concept underscores how observed consequences influence our own behavior.
• The Asch Conformity Study : This research conducted by psychologist Solomon Asch in the 1950s aimed to understand the extent to which social pressure from a majority group could influence a person to conform.

Remember, understanding these concepts helps unravel the complexities of aggression and sheds light on how we learn from our social environment. 

A Few Words by Psychology Fanatic

In conclusion, no single theory sufficiently explains childhood development. Witnessing domestic violence as a child doesn’t condemn a child to violent adult relationships. Most children of violent homes move into adulthood without becoming an abuser or a victim themselves.

Vast majority of children that play violent video games or watch violence on television grow into normal functioning adults. While witnessing violence certainly has an impact on development, it is only one of many factors that influence and shape our lives.

Last Update: July 27, 2024

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References:

Bandura, A. (1978). Social Learning Theory of Aggression . Journal of Communication, 28(3), 12-29.

Bandura, A. (1965). Influence of models’ reinforcement contingencies on the acquisition of imitative responses. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1(6), 589-595.

Baumeister, R., Tierney, J. (2012).  Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength . Penguin Books; Reprint edition​

Drewes, A. (2008). Bobo Revisited: What the Research Says . International Journal of Play Therapy, 17(1), 52-65.

​​Graham, P., & Arshad-Ayaz, A. (2016). Learned Unsustainability: Bandura’s Bobo Doll Revisited . Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 10(2), 262-273.

Ozer, E. (2022). Albert Bandura (1925–2021) . American Psychologist, 77(3), 483-484.​

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