Social Learning Theory Of Aggressive Behavior

Social learning theory argued that individual learns through aggression behavior by observing and imitating behavior of others (Bandura, 1986). There are two methods for learning aggression which are observing aggressive modeled behaviors and gaining or expecting consequences or payoffs in aggression. The consequences involved stopping aggressive behavior by other people; obtaining compliment or rank or other related target by acting aggressively; receiving positive reinforcement and approval and decreasing pressure. External environment is a critical factor that determines the people in expressing and maintaining aggressive behavior.
Social learning theory has been employed for interpreting gender stereotype in social world. The preconception
For instance, a females behave in tender, warmth and soft characteristics but if she behave in aggressive behavior that will be judged in difficult situation. Based on the mini social experiment, two girls are act aggressively toward a guy, others may think that the guy could be did something wrong to this two girl instead of stopping them. Most of the people perceive females behave aggressively are acceptable due to prior learning in socialization experiences and less likely to perceive negatively. Thus, females performed in aggressive behavior seen as common in most situations (Praill, 2010). However, when the male showed aggressiveness toward females and females perceive as a target of aggression more likely to determine the situation was severe and harsh and tend to report to the police authority (Way, 2015). Many people perceive males behave aggressively are unacceptable due to prior learning and others more likely to perceive negatively. Based on the experiment, a guy act aggressively to a female, the bystander tends to stand out to help the girl and stop the guy when pushing the girl away. Gender stereotype has been influenced individual’s cognitive structure in social interaction process and help to explain in predicting and judging behavior of others (Hoffman & Pasley,