Final answer:
Children are least likely to imitate an aggressive model when the model is punished for their behavior. Bandura's Bobo doll study indicated that children replicate behavior seen in adults, with the replication being contingent on the presence of rewards or punishment for the modeled behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children are least likely to imitate an aggressive model when the model is punished for their aggressive behavior, according to Bandura's research on modeling behavior. In contrast, if the aggressive model is attractive and prestigious, they may be more inclined to imitate that behavior. Findings from Bandura's Bobo doll study showed that children who observed an aggressive model being punished did not replicate the aggressive behavior. However, when the model was praised or ignored for their behavior, children tended to act similarly aggressive. This supports the idea that consequences for a model's actions can significantly influence observational learning and imitation in children.
The implications of these findings extend to practical applications in parenting and education, highlighting the importance of prosocial models and the potential risks of displaying aggression or violence in the presence of children, as they may replicate these behaviors. Furthermore, the potential for modeling to reproduce societal structures and norms, such as the class system or gender roles, is significant, as children may adopt behaviors that align with their family's social and economic status.