Question

What was the main finding of Albert Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment involving 72 kids between the ages of 3-6?

A) Kids who witnessed no aggression were more likely to act aggressively.
B) There was no significant difference in the behavior of the two groups.
C) Kids exposed to aggression were more likely to act aggressively (observational learning).
D) The experiment concluded that aggression in children is solely influenced by genetics.

Answer 1

Albert Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment found that kids who saw aggression acted more aggressively, showing that observational learning plays a key role in behavior acquisition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main finding from Albert Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment is best summarized by option C) Kids exposed to aggression were more likely to act aggressively (observational learning). The experiment involved 72 children between the ages of 3-6 and focused on understanding how social behaviors, such as aggression, can be acquired through observational learning. The children observed an adult acting aggressively towards a Bobo doll; those who witnessed the adult receiving no consequence for aggressive behavior tended to imitate this behavior themselves, demonstrating that they had learned it by observation.

The consequences observed after the model's behavior were critical in shaping the children's responses. When the aggressive adult model was punished, children decreased their aggressive imitations. However, if the model was praised or ignored, the children were more likely to act aggressively towards the Bobo doll themselves.

This study has far-reaching implications, highlighting the importance of role models and media influences on children's behavior. It supports the notion that children learn and replicate both positive (prosocial) and negative (antisocial) behaviors from their environment. Bandura's work underscores the responsibility of parents, educators, and media creators to present positive examples for children to emulate.