Final answer:
The learning theory that best explains the increase in aggressive behavior in children due to physical punishment is Social Learning Theory. This theory suggests that children learn through observation and imitation of adults who use physical punishment, leading them to model similar aggressive behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social learning theory, proposed by Albert Bandura, suggests that aggression and other types of behaviors are learned through observing and imitating others, particularly influential models such as parents or authoritative figures. When children witness adults using physical force as a means of control or response to frustration, they may emulate this behavior, mistakenly learning that aggression is an appropriate way to handle conflicts or express dissatisfaction. Unlike classical conditioning, which involves respondent behavior, or operant conditioning, where behavior is shaped through reinforcement and punishment, social learning emphasizes the observational learning process. Research has shown that children subjected to physical punishment might develop aggressive behaviors, reflecting what has been modeled to them by adults utilizing such punitive methods.
While operant conditioning involves learning through the consequences of actions and could also be related to learning aggressive behaviors if punishment is misapplied, studies particularly highlight the role of modeled behavior—as explained by the social learning theory—in the acquisition of aggressive responses among children who experience physical punishment.