Aggression can be defined as "behavior performed with the intent to harm others", while violence can be defined as "behavior designed to cause injury or physical harm.” It is safe to say that both of these actions took place during the London riots. Bandura and Walters (1963) believed that aggression could not necessarily be explained using traditional learning theory; where direct experience was considered responsible for the acquisition of any new behavior. Revised social learning theory suggests that we are also able to learn by observing the behavior of others and the results of that behavior. This suggests that many rioters were simply “copying” the behavior they witnessed in others. Due to the large amount of television material surrounding the riots, many viewers may have been encouraged to join in by seeing existing rioters reap the rewards of their actions. This is strongly supported by the Bobo doll study conducted by Bandura et al (1961), whose results showed that those in the sample who were exposed to a model acting aggressively towards the doll reproduced a large part of the aggression and violence they had witnessed. however, those who encountered a model who was nonaggressive toward the doll showed virtually no violence toward the toy. Huesmann and Moise (1996) suggested five ways in which exposure to media violence can lead to aggression: Observational and imitation learning, cognitive priming, desensitization, decreased physiological arousal, and justification. The London riots can be used to support all sections of this theory, such as observational learning and imitation, as individuals are more likely to imitate the behavior shown on television if they follow the... .... middle of paper ...... ssive by about 50% compared to those who watched moderate amounts. This would suggest that the link is unpredictable. Theorists such as Feshbach and Singer (1971) believe that watching violence has beneficial and cathartic effects and that the arousal caused by viewing violence in the media allows one to release pent-up aggression without resorting to it. -even to violence. One drawback of Belson's research is that it does not include the genre of television watched by the sample. This could have negative effects on internal validity because it is not specific to violent and aggressive television. Works Cited Belson (1978) Feshback and Singer (1971) Bandura and Walters (1963) Huesmann and Moise (1996) Bandura et al (1961) Philips (1983) Giles (2003) Jacklin and Maccoby (1974) Hyde (1984) Journal The Guardian BBC News Online Complete Companion Handbook Oxford Psychology A2