Observational Learning

Learning occurs not only by conditioning but by observing others

• Observational learning→ learning by observing others and imitating their behavior

• Modeling→ the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior– “Monkey see, monkey do”– Humans have a strong tendency to imitate

behavior. – Memes→ transmitted cultural elements such as

ideas, fashions, and habits that travel by imitation

• Mirror Neurons→ provide a neural basis for observational learning→ frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so – The brains mirroring of another’s actions

may enable imitation, language learning and empathy• Ex.- We find it harder to frown when viewing

a smile than when viewing a frown.

Bandura’s experiment• Preschool children observed adults beating a

Bobo doll- Adults were pounding, kicking, and throwing a large inflated Bobo doll around the room, while yelling such remarks as, “Sock him in the nose… Hit him down… Kick him.”

• Children were later given the opportunity to play with the Bobo doll. Compared with children NOT exposed to the adult model, those who observed the adult model’s aggressive outburst were much more likely to lash out at the doll. Children imitated the very acts they had observed and used the words they heard.

• What determines whether we will imitate a model?– Reinforcements and punishments→ We

learn to anticipate a behavior’s consequences in situations like those we are observing.

– We are especially likely to imitate those we perceive as similar to ourselves

– We imitate those that are successful.– We imitate people we admire.

Applications of Observational Learning

• Antisocial models- in one’s family or neighborhood, or on TV- may have antisocial effects.– “Copycat” threats or incidents in every state after

Columbine High School massacre– Abusive parents might have aggressive children– Many men who beat their wives had wife-battering

fathers• Intergenerational transmission of abuse or violence

• Positive behavior can also be learned through observational learning.– Prosocial (positive, helpful,

constructive) models can have prosocial behavior.

– People who exemplify nonviolent, helpful behavior can prompt similar behavior in others• Martin Luther King, Jr. made non-violent

action a powerful force of social change through modeling

*** Models are most effective when their actions and words are

consistent.***