Observational learning Flashcards
Observational learning
Occurs when someone used observation of a model’s actions and the consequences of those actions to guide their future actions
Attention
Must actively watch the model’s behaviour
We are more likely to imitate models who have these characteristics
Model is perceived as being positive
Model is familiar
Retention
Responses learned by observation are often not needed until some time after they have been acquired
Reproduction
Following observation of a model’s behaviour, the learner needs to have the physical and mental capability to be able to imitate the behaviour that has been observed/learnt
Motivation
The learner must also want to perform the behaviour
Unless the behaviour provides some sort of incentive or reward, it is unlikely that they will want to learn it in the first place
Reinforcement
Reinforcement influences the motivation to reproduce the observed behaviour and increases the likelihood of reproduction
Albert Bandura experiment
- interested in observational learning of aggression
The children were shown one of three films
Every film showed an adult punching, kicking and verbally abusing the bobo doll
The 3 conditions were
Group 1: aggressive model was rewarded with lollies and praised by another adult
Group 2: aggressive model was punished with spankings and verbal criticism from another adult
Group 3: aggressive model received no consequences
After the exposure to the film, each child was placed in a room with many toys and a bobo doll
Results of Albert Bandura
Children who watched the aggressive model either being reinforced or receiving no consequences imitated the model’s aggressive behaviour more than children who watched the model be punished
When offered a reward as an incentive even those who saw the model being punished tended to imitate the model’s behaviour
