Action Led- Debate around Bandura

Action Led- Debate around Bandura

Definition

  • Action Led- Debate around Bandura refers to the ongoing discussions about Albert Bandura’s theory of social learning in the context of video gaming.
  • Bandura’s theory postulates learning through observation, imitation and modelling, which is proposed to be influential in shaping individuals’ behaviour, including their engagement with and understanding of video games.

Influence on Game Development

  • Developers may integrate certain behaviours into games based on Bandura’s theory, assuming players will mimic these actions in-game, leading to heightened user engagement and immersion.
  • The theory is often utilised to justify the inclusion of both positive and negative behaviours, such as collaboration or violence respectively, within the game mechanics and narratives.

Application and Examples

  • Games such as Fortnite or Call of Duty provoke the debate around Bandura’s theory due to their focus on violent game play, raising questions about whether such games encourage aggression in players.
  • Conversely, games like Minecraft stimulate cooperative and creative behaviours, reinforcing the positive aspects of Bandura’s theory.

Controversy

  • There’s ongoing controversy about the application of Bandura’s theory to video games, particularly concerning violence and aggression in games. Critics argue that violence in games can lead to violent behaviour in real life.
  • However, defenders of the gaming industry stress that there’s no definitive scientific evidence that violent games directly cause real-world violence.

The Role of Parents and Regulators

  • Parents and regulators are often adviced to understand the ratings and content of games, to make informed decisions about their suitability for children.
  • There’s ongoing debate about the effectiveness of age ratings, the degree of parental understanding of content, and the online nature of most games making it challenging to entirely control exposure.
  • With increasing complexity and diversity in video gaming, the debate around Bandura’s theory is expected to continue, encompassing new areas from the influence of games on mental health to their potential as educational tools.
  • As the medium continues to evolve, further research and discussions will likely shed more light on the relationship between observed in-game behaviours and real-world actions.