Final answer:
The Bobo doll study conducted by Albert Bandura in 1961 investigated the impact of observational learning on aggressive behavior in children. It challenged the belief of radical behaviorists that behavior is solely determined by reinforcement and punishment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bobo doll study was conducted by psychologist Albert Bandura in 1961 to investigate the impact of observational learning on aggressive behavior in children. Bandura used a five-foot inflatable doll called a Bobo doll as the target of aggression. In the study, children observed an adult model either being punished or receiving no consequence for aggressive behavior towards the doll. The results showed that children were more likely to imitate aggressive behavior when they saw the model being praised or going unpunished.
The Bobo doll study was problematic for radical behaviorists because it challenged their belief that behavior is solely determined by reinforcement and punishment. Radical behaviorists argued that all behavior is learned through conditioning, but Bandura's study demonstrated that children can learn through observation without direct reinforcement or punishment. The study highlighted the importance of cognitive processes and the role of modeling in behavior acquisition, which went against the radical behaviorists' perspective.