Psychology 5

The nature/nurture debate within psychology is concerned with the  extent to which particular aspects of behavior are a product of either  inherited (genetic) or acquired (learned) characteristics. This exercise  will help you explore that debate by looking at one specific behavior,  aggression.

Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory states that aggression is  learned from the environment through observation and imitation  (nurture). He concludes this, in part, from the results of his famous  Bobo doll experiment (Bandura, 1961). Review the Bobo experiment here: . 

Reflect on the following issues:

• Where do you stand on the nature/nurture debate? Is aggression a  learned behavior? Please provide specific examples to your point of  view.
• Discuss your thoughts on the experiment and its relevance to the  debate. Do you see any potential flaws or underlying factors that may  not be reflected in the analysis here?
• Suggest at least one implication for society if children do learn predominantly by imitation.  

Write a 23  page paper (not including the title page and reference page)  referencing at least two sources (you may cite the website provided here  for the Bobo doll experiment as one of your sources. Refer to the Bobo  doll experiment, but do not summarize it.)

Use current APA Style and include a title page and reference page.

Bobo experiment link – https://www.simplypsychology.org/bobo-doll.html