norms regulate behaviour within a group

as social animals, we have a great need to belong

a norm = set of rules based on socially + culturally shared beliefs on how an individual should behave

plays a big role in the desire to conform to group norms

social learning theory assumes that humans learn behaviour through the environment + specifically through observational learning

Method: 72 kids (3-6 years old) (36 boys + 36 girls)

divided into 3 groups

b) to see if children were more likely to imitate the same-sex models

groups were made according to their parents evaluation of the child's aggression

group 1. exposed to adult models showing aggression by bashing bobo doll

a) to see if children would imitate aggression modelled by an adult

Aim: to test the observation + modelling of aggressive behaviour

some watched same-sex models, others watched opposite sex models

group 2. observed non-aggressive adult who assembled toys for 10 mins

following this, child was placed alone in room with bobo doll

group 3. control group (no model)

Findings: group 1 = significantly more aggressive

children showed signs of observational learning of aggression (SLT)

girls more likely to imitate verbal aggression

boys more likely to imitate physical aggression