Albert Bandura · 1961
Bobo Doll Experiment
Children see, children do. Kids who watched adults beat a doll did the same, often more creatively.
Methodology
Participants:
• 72 Kids (Avg age 4)
Conditions:
1. Aggressive Model: Adult beats Bobo doll (Hammer, kicking, yelling)
2. Non-aggressive Model
3. No Model
Frustration Induction:
• Showed toys then took them away
Findings
Aggression:
• Saw Aggressive Model → 38.2 acts
• Non-aggressive → 22.3 acts
Mimicry:
• Only those who saw aggression mimicked exact moves
• Boys more aggressive physically
• Girls aggressive too if model was female
Creative Aggression:
• Gun use, new methods devised
Significance
Media Violence:
• Sparked debate on TV/Game violence
Education:
• Modeling is powerful
• "Do as I say, not as I do" fails