In contrast to instinct theories, social learning theories view aggression as a learned
behavior. This approach focuses on the effect that role models and reinforcement of behavior
have on the acquisition of aggressive behavior. Research has shown that aggressive behavior
can be learned through a combination of modeling and positive reinforcement of the aggressive
behavior and that children are influenced by the combined forces of observing aggressive
behavior in parents, peers, or fictional role models and of noting either positive reinforcement
for the aggressive behavior or, minimally, a lack of negative reinforcement for the behavior. While
research has provided evidence that the behavior of a live model is more influential than that of
a fictional model, fictional models of aggressive behavior such as those seen in movies and on
television, do still have an impact on behavior. E3 On-screen deaths or acts of violent behavior
in certain television programs or movies can be counted in the tens, or hundreds, or even
thousands; while some have argued that this sort of fictional violence does not in and of itself
cause violence and may even have a beneficial cathartic effect, studies have shown correlations
between viewing of violence and incidences of aggressive behavior in both childhood and
adolescence. E3 Studies have also shown that it is not just the modeling of aggressive behavior
in either its real-life or fictional form that correlates with increased acts of violence in youths; a
critical factor in increasing aggressive behaviors is the reinforcement of the behavior. E3 If the
aggressive role model is rewarded rather than punished for violent behavior, that behavior is
more likely to be seen as positive and is thus more likely to be imitated. C23
instinct common to humans.