Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment comes to mind here for me - I'll try and find some links to add here. The study basically separates children into groups and has some exposed to adults treating the doll violently, some ignoring the doll and some treating it nicely. The children were then left alone with the doll. The study showed that those exposed to more aggressive role models acted more aggressively to the doll afterwards than those in other groups.
I'd argue that there are also other factors (natural levels of aggression, circumstances, hormone levels, etc) but children do learn by observation to an extent. In this way I'd argue that nurture plays a very important role too.
Great observation @Daniella Moriarty, Bandura's research was later used to influence people for the better. In countries like Mexico and Ethopia soap operas were developed in which an individual went through a dramatic change for the better.
In Mexico for instance, the uptake in literacy was huge after one of these shows.
You're absolutely right, learning by observation is a huge part of the problem. 😁
Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment comes to mind here for me - I'll try and find some links to add here. The study basically separates children into groups and has some exposed to adults treating the doll violently, some ignoring the doll and some treating it nicely. The children were then left alone with the doll. The study showed that those exposed to more aggressive role models acted more aggressively to the doll afterwards than those in other groups.
I'd argue that there are also other factors (natural levels of aggression, circumstances, hormone levels, etc) but children do learn by observation to an extent. In this way I'd argue that nurture plays a very important role too.