Question

Describe Bandura’s findings from his classic Bobo doll experiment. What implications does this have when it comes to preschoolers and television?

The response to this critical thinking question must be at least 100 words.

Answer 1

Bandura conducted a social experiment on Bobo Dolls to examine the effects of children observing violent behaviour. Bandura divided children into two equal groups and made them watch two seperate videos. In the first video, an adult was seen playing with a Bobo Doll in a friendly manner and treating it well. In the other video, an adult was seen hitting, punching, and kicking the Bobo Doll. Once the two groups saw their videos, they were taken into a room filled with Bobo Dolls. It was seen that the children who watched the adult play nicely with the doll were also playing nice with the doll, whereas the children who watched the adult hit and punch the doll, were seen doing the same.

Thus, the conclusions were evident that when a child observes an adult displaying a positive or negative behaviour, they are likely to do the same. Children especially in the initial years when their cognitive skills are not well developed, resort to replicating behaviour rather than analysing the reasons to do their behaviour. As a result, the actions displayed by adults in front of the child directly or through mediums such as television should be regulated and only age appropriate channels should be watched by the children.