Cognitive Behavior Therapy

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Behavior modeling is an exceedingly common topic in today’s world. It involves mapping and observing the successful processes, which make the foundation of an exceptional performance of some sort. One can define modeling as a process of assimilating complex series of events and breaking them up into small parts for the purposes of recapping them. One of the most significant purposes of modeling is to develop a pragmatic model or map of a certain behavior, which one can utilize to simulate certain aspects of that performance. The main aim of modeling is to identify the significant factors of action and thought needed to produce the desired results or responses. This article will discuss the issue of behavior modeling and why today’s individuals should be concerned with the content shown in films and television programs.

The social learning theory is one of the common behavior theories relevant to criminology. Albert Bandura, one of the world’s significant psychologists believed that aggression and violence is learned through behavior modeling. He argued that people usually are not born with violent tendencies, but they model them later in life. He pointed out that people, and particularly children, learn violence and aggression responses from looking at and observing other individuals, either through the environment, media or personally. He argued that most people hold the notion that aggression and violence will lead to reinforcements. These reinforcements in turn can formulate into tension reduction, gaining praise from others, attaining financial rewards and building one’s self esteem.

During the Bobo doll experiment, the children participating in the experiment imitated the aggression the adults displayed because of reward or positive reinforcement achieved. Bandura had significant interest in development of children, and he pointed out that if aggression and violence in children was diagnosed early enough then these children would reframe from growing up to become adult criminals. He stated that aggression and violence in most children is influenced and encouraged by the positive reinforcement they receive from the family, media and the environment.

The same psychologist also believed that the media and especially, the television is a significant source of behavior modeling. In the current world, television shows and films show violence and aggression graphically. Violence is usually shown as behavior that is acceptable, especially for the heroes who never receive punishment. Since violence and aggression are prominent characteristics of numerous programs, children with a higher level of exposure to the media might show a relatively higher incidence of aggression in imitation to the violence they witness.

There have been numerous incidences and cases of extreme violence were individuals acted aggressively towards others, as a result, of violence witnessed in television programs and films. This is one of the main reasons why in the current world, where all sorts of things are allowed and broadcasted in media ranging from violence to abuse to substance and drug abuse to sexual abuse to undesirable social behaviors, parents must be careful with what they expose their children to in the media. As Bandura argued, children are predisposed to pick and simulate numerous kinds of bad habits from the media, and assimilating and copying the same behaviors. Because of these higher rates of instances of children copying or modeling undesirable behavior from the media, as well as, from adults, there should be increased concern on what films and programs are broadcasted in the television.

Reference

Bandura, A. (1962). Social learning through imitation. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.