A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Which characteristic of the participants in Bandura et al (1961) raised concerns about ethnocentrism?

1. Participants were from a middle-class background

2. Participants were from a violent area

3. Participants had varied racial backgrounds

4. Participants were children

The correct answer is: Participants were from a middle-class background

The concern regarding ethnocentrism in Bandura et al (1961) primarily stems from the characteristic that the participants were from a middle-class background. Ethnocentrism refers to the tendency to view the world from one's own cultural perspective, which can lead to biases in how research findings are interpreted and generalized. Since the participants were predominantly middle-class children from a specific cultural context (American), this raises questions about the extent to which the findings can be applied to populations outside this demographic. It suggests that the behaviors observed in this study may not accurately reflect those of individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds or cultures, thereby limiting the universal applicability of Bandura's conclusions about social learning and aggression. In contrast, other characteristics, such as being from a violent area, possessing varied racial backgrounds, or simply being children, do not inherently invoke the same level of concern regarding ethnocentrism when considering the broader implications of the research. Thus, the middle-class background is noteworthy in discussions of cultural representation and applicability of psychological theories.