In this study, 72 children from ages three to five were divided into groups to watch an adult confederate (the model) interact with an assortment of toys in the experiment room, including an inflated Bobo doll.
For children assigned the non-aggressive condition, the role model ignored the doll.
After the role model left the room, the children were allowed to interact with similar toys individually.
Children who observed the non-aggressive role model's behavior played quietly with the toys and rarely initiated violence toward the Bobo doll.
[6] While the significance of mirror neurons is still up for debate in the scientific community, many believe them to be the primary biological component in imitative learning.