Bandura's Bobo doll study found that exposure to an aggressive model led to which outcome in children?

Bandura's Bobo doll study found that exposure to an aggressive model led to which outcome in children?

• A. Children showed higher aggression toward the doll, especially when the model was the same gender.
• B. Children showed lower aggression toward the doll after exposure.
• C. No change in aggression compared to controls.
• D. Aggression only occurred if there was video, not a live model.

Answer: (A)

Observational learning shows that people can learn new behaviors by watching others, especially when they identify with the model. In Bandura’s Bobo doll work, children who watched an adult behave aggressively toward a inflatable doll were more likely to imitate that aggression when given a chance to play themselves. The imitation was stronger when the model matched the child’s gender, because identification with the model increases the tendency to copy the behavior. This demonstrates that aggression can be learned by observation, not just through direct reinforcement. The outcome isn’t a reduction or no change in aggression, and it wasn’t limited to filmed models—live and filmed demonstrations both led to imitation, with gender matching enhancing the effect.

Observational learning shows that people can learn new behaviors by watching others, especially when they identify with the model. In Bandura’s Bobo doll work, children who watched an adult behave aggressively toward a inflatable doll were more likely to imitate that aggression when given a chance to play themselves. The imitation was stronger when the model matched the child’s gender, because identification with the model increases the tendency to copy the behavior. This demonstrates that aggression can be learned by observation, not just through direct reinforcement. The outcome isn’t a reduction or no change in aggression, and it wasn’t limited to filmed models—live and filmed demonstrations both led to imitation, with gender matching enhancing the effect.