What was the main aim of Bandura's 1961 study?

The main aim of Bandura's 1961 study was to demonstrate that children imitate aggressive behavior after witnessing it. This study, known for its innovative approach in experimental psychology, focused on observational learning, a concept that Bandura pioneered. He used a specific methodology where children were exposed to an aggressive model (an adult behaving aggressively towards a Bobo doll) and then observed to see if they would mimic that behavior when given the opportunity to play with the same toy.

The significance of this study lies in its implications for understanding how behavior can be learned through observation rather than direct reinforcement or punishment. Bandura's findings contributed profoundly to developmental psychology and raised awareness about the influences of media and social environments on children's behavior.

The other options propose aims that do not align with the focus of Bandura's research. For example, exploring language acquisition or assessing cognitive development stages were not issues addressed by Bandura in this study. Additionally, analyzing peer pressure, while relevant in psychology, was not the central theme of Bandura's investigation. In essence, Bandura's study uniquely concentrated on the impact of witnessing aggression and the subsequent imitation of that behavior.