The effects of verbal warning on imitated aggression with reference to developmental level.

Abstract

Hypotheses were tested that developmental level and verbal warning have an effect on imitated aggression. This study utilized the classic Bandura Bobo doll experiment expanding it a dimension further by relating Piaget's levels of cognitive development. The subjects, private elementary school children, were shown one of three films (non-aggressive, aggressive, and aggressive with warning) and then placed in an identical setting where the subjects were observed, and their actions recorded. In addition to the division by the stimulus objects, the subjects were classified by cognitive developmental level by pre-test examinations. This research study confirmed the classic Bandura work that children learn to be aggressive by observing an aggressive model. It also was found that the presentation of a warning does inhibit the modeling phenomenon. While not statistically significant, a strong trend was uncovered which suggests a positive relationship between the warning not to model and the higher cognitive levels.