Psychology

Studies conducted to evaluate the way in which children mimic brought to light interesting factors on how children respond.  Further to this, specifically in imitating behaviors if children placed any limitations or restrictions associated with mimicking especially when it came to aggressive behavior.  This paper is going to pinpoint the methodology, and results of studies conducted using adolescent children and their responses to aggressive behavior associated with a reward system, and punishment (Bandura et al, 1960).

Methods
The methodology was to interpret natural and normal surroundings in evaluating how children imitate behaviors in determining to what extent, and if the imitating thus becomes learned behaviors, which merge with the childs personality.  The evaluation focused on childrens imitating of aggression, in accordance with other factors.

The study contained a reward system and punishment technique to see if children would be deterred being wary of being punished or if they even after viewing the aggressor, who though clearly undeserving, rewards himself, still imitate the behavior.  The studies included a mixed group of adolescent boys and girls who view a film on television that exhibited aggressive behavior between two adolescents over toys acting in an aggressive manner and using aggressive language (Bandura et al, 1960).

A second group viewed the same film with exception that it lacked any aggressive behavior.  After the viewing of the films, the children, then went to play in a room that included the same toys as in the films.  The study was to evaluate in imitating if the children would imitate what they had viewed (Bandura et al, 1960).

Results
The studys results were indicative that while some children did imitate the behaviors it was not to the extent expected, however what they did imitate was precise in its display.  It may have been a bit surprising that there were no remarkable differences in imitating of the children.  Those who viewed the aggression versus those who viewed the non-aggressive film maintained exhibiting of behaviors in the playroom scenarios, not attributed solely to the viewing of the films (Bandura et al, 1960).

Observance of the children while playing with the toys, which were identifiable to those on the film, gave indications that the behaviors were of normal expectations for the group.  This determination was by the extent and purpose of the use of the toys as weapons, or not (Bandura et al, 1960).  For those who in their play imitated exactly the aggression exhibited on the film, there was not enough of the group to do so, and therefore the results as they stood were not conclusively of either group to support the hypothesis.

Discussion
The study based on the evaluation of how children imitate behaviors, and to what extent.  Looking at the parameters of imitating based on objective and subjective natures inclusive of delayed reaction times and gender differences.  The conditions based on a controlled study using experimental inclusion in keeping the environment as uncontrolled and a natural occurrence of events. This was to ensure that the reactions were not controlled or inhibited.  The ability of the children to imitate the aggression was remarkable, as determined by the lack of aggression exhibited by those in the non-aggression group in comparison (Bandura et al, 1960).  The study will require further testing as the overall results are inconclusive for long term trending effects.