Transmission of Aggression through Imitation of Aggressive Models - Term Paper Example

?Transmission of Aggression through imitation of Aggressive Models Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models Introduction There has been the development of various studies aimed at identifying reasons for aggressive behaviors in children and teenagers. Social theorist has largely carried out these studies. Social theorists have played a significant role in showing transmission of aggression through imitation of violence models. These approaches are used to monitor children development in relation to people around them. One of the studies has shown that exposure of children to violent models leads to imitation of the models and subsequent future development of the behavior (Bandura, Ross & Ross, 1961). Moreover, the opposite is true that those exposed to non-aggressive model are less likely to exhibit aggressive behavior (Bandura, Ross & Ross, 1961). Aggressive models can be established to disclose their relationship to the development of violent behavior in children and teenagers. Examples may include real-life models located at the reality end of the continuum, fictional character, and through films, depicting human models occupying an intermediate position (Albert, Ross & Sheila 1963). According to a study, the remote the model was from reality, the weaker would be the trend for subjects to emulate the behavior of the model (Albert, Ross & Sheila 1963). Consequently, the person is most likely to emulate the behavior identified with the model (Albert et al. 1963). Moreover, a difference occurs in imitation process based on gender. For example, the study argued that male subjects would be more imitative of aggressions as compared to their female counterparts (Bandura, Ross & Ross, 1961). On the other hand, also other factors may lead to the development of violent behavior in children through transmission and emulation process. Such factors include violent neighborhood, violent episodes in mainstream media, and parenthood. A reflection on factors leading to transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models helps in explaining aggressive behaviors in children and teenagers. Factors leading to Transmission of aggression through imitation of aggressive models Entertainment medium plays a role in development of violence in children and teenagers the effects occur due to exposure to programs in television and movies. According to Greder and Charania, “In United States, a typical American spends over 20 hours a week exposed to television outside the school” (2004, p. 1). Children spend most of time on the media. Consequently, in the period, children are exposed to over 5 violent acts per hour during prime time and over 20 violent acts during the weekend (Greder & Charania, 2004). On the other hand, the advent of technology has led to exposure of children to video games. Hence, video games have become popular among children. The popularity is pronounced as the revenues of video and computer games surpassed those of the retail software industry and domestic film industry (Greder & Charania, 2004). In fact, the favorite video games among the cohorts are the violent ones. Consequently, this has led to the development of behavior such as aggressive thinking, aggressive feeling, and aggressive behavior (Greder & Charania, 2004). Moreover, the aggressive behavior occurs through observational learning. The effect occurs as children spend countless hours learning from television, movie, and video game characters (Greder & Charania, 2004). The effects are reinforced by audio, visual, and tactile process of learning and hence the scenes become irresistible and exciting to the audience (Greder & Charania, 2004). In these media, the character reinforced is one of an aggressive model. Consequently, the aggressive models serve as a role model to the children and thus displace other role models such as teachers and adults in the community. Additionally, repeated exposure leads to the learning of observed violent acts. For example, this role is enhanced through video games. In these games, the child acts as an active learner. The habituation becomes stronger through violent response (Greder & Charania, 2004). Additionally, violent neighborhood is also most likely to lead to transmission of violent behavior. The reason behind this is that violent neighborhood acts as an aggressive model for the children to imitate. The children in those neighborhoods are faced with different challenges. First, they lack pro-social adult role models to help them out of violent behaviors (Reebye, 2005). Additionally, they lack the opportunity to develop internalized restraint through exposure to positive models and actions (Reebye, 2005). As a result, most of the children in such neighborhood create their own judgment based on the society that usually leads them to unacceptable groups. For example, a study carried out showed that community violence affects the violent behaviors of preschoolers in a differential manner (Reebye, 2005). For example, those exposed to violence appeared to develop violent symptoms while the victims of violence developed violent attributes (Reebye, 2005). In addition, adults or parents play a role in aggressive behavior by the children. The effect occurs as children imitate, observe, and assess what they learn in adults. Therefore, a violent parent or adult will most likely transmit such behavior to children. Most of the families that show forms of violence expose themselves as a good model for the children to follow. Consequently, most of the children in such a family set up are most likely to develop violent criminal behavior (Ferguson et al., 2008). According to Ferguson et al, aggressiveness is amplified by exposure to physical abuse in childhood (2008). Moreover, the aggressiveness appears to relate to witnessing domestic violence in the family. Such kind of violence may arise through repeated argument between husband and wife. Consequently, such behaviors are transmitted to the child, as the child perceives the parent as models to be imitated. Moreover, exposure of the child to aggressiveness makes them susceptible to committing criminal activities in the future (Ferguson et al., 2008). Moreover, paternal characteristics play a role in aggression. Therefore, if the parent depicts negative characteristics there is likely reproduction and promotion of such behavior by a child (Reebye, 2005). In fact, if the child is the recipient of aggression this increased risk of such child to develop physically aggressive tendency (Reebye, 2005). For example, if a father develops antisocial behavior, there is a possibility of such habit exhibited in the child. According to a study, those exposed to extreme family conflict may express their hostility physiologically through heart rate activity (Reebye, 2005). Moreover, there is increased assessment of a linkage of aggressive children with abnormal parental models (Duman & Margolin, 2007). The effect occurs as children imitate the aggressive models and internalize the habit. In fact, there has been increased documentation of the relationship between parental antisocial stance and violence in children. Conclusion There is more evidence that transmission of aggression in children occurs through imitation of aggressive models. Therefore, this has been an area of interest to many researchers. Bandura and co-members did one of the significant researches. On the other hand, there occur myriad aggressive models that are most likely to be imitated by children and teenagers. One of such models is the violent video games. The rise of these games has been due to the advent in technology. Consequently, most of the children are exposed to violent video games. Most of the children imitate, act, and actualize these episodes, and this leads to the development of aggressive habit. On the other hand, parents play a role in development of aggressive behaviors in children. First, this may occur through exposure of children to abuse. Consequently, children take this as a pattern and develop a habit of violence in the future. On the other hand, exposure to violent neighborhood leads to aggression in children and teenagers. Such children are accustomed to the model of violent neighborhood and thus develop a habit of aggressiveness. Lastly, it is clear that violence can be avoided in children by exposing them to models of non-aggressiveness. References Albert, B., Ross, D & Sheila A. (1963). Imitation of film-mediated aggressive models. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 66(1), 3-11. Retrieved from http://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/Bandura/Bandura1963JASP.pdf Bandura, A., Ross, D & Ross, S. (1961). Transmission Of Aggression through Imitation of Aggressive Models. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63, 575-582. Retrieved from http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Bandura/bobo.htm Duman, S & Margolin, G. (2007). Parents’ Aggressive Influences and Children's Aggressive. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 36(1), 42-55. Ferguson, C., Cruz, A., Martinez, D., Rueda, S., Ferguson, D & Negy, C. (2008). Personality, Parental, and Media Influences on Aggressive. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 17(4), 395-414. Greder, K & Charania, A. (2004). Entertainment Media Violence: Roles for Extension Professionals. Journal of Extension, 42(5). Retrieved from http://www.joe.org/joe/2004october/a4.php Reebye, P. (2005). Aggression During Early Years — Infancy and Preschool. The Canadian child and adolescent psychiatry review, 14(1), 16-20. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2538723/ Read More