A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

In Bandura et al's study, what did the children experience in the room with attractive toys during Phase 2?

1. They were allowed to play with the toys

2. They were frustrated when they were stopped from playing

3. They had fun with the toys

4. They observed another child play

The correct answer is: They were frustrated when they were stopped from playing

In Bandura et al.'s study, during Phase 2, the children experienced frustration when they were stopped from playing with the attractive toys. This aspect of the research is crucial as it sets up a situation that elicits aggressive behavior. By introducing a level of frustration, the researchers aimed to test how it might influence the children's subsequent behavior when they later observed aggression. The idea is that children who feel frustrated may be more likely to exhibit aggression themselves, as they replicate the behavior they have observed after being provoked. This aligns with Bandura's social learning theory, which posits that behavior can be learned through observation and imitation, especially under heightened emotional states.