Observational Learning Flashcards
What are the five parts of Observational Learning?
Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation
Reinforcement
What is Attention?
Must actively watch the model.
This is influenced by motivation and interest of the observer etc.
More likely to attend to models that are:
Perceived positively, is liked, has high status
Similar in nature to observer eg. gender, age
Familiar to observer
Attractive or successful
RETENTION
The observer must be able to make a mental representation of the model’s behaviour
The more meaningful you can make the image, the more accurately you will be able to replicate the behaviour
REPRODUCTION
The observer must have the physical ability to perform the action.
Reproduction is restricted by physical limitation.
MOTIVATION
The learner must want/desire to perform the behaviour.
If being taught something, then the teachers should encourage the learner to repeat the behaviour just seen.
REINFORCEMENT
Reinforcement influences the motivation to reproduce the observer’s behaviour and increases the likelihood of reproduction.
External reinforcement is comparable to learning by consequences (e.g. praise or money).
Vicarious reinforcement occurs indirectly by observing the modelled behaviour being reinforced without personally experiencing the reinforcement.
Self-reinforcement occurs when we are reinforced by meeting certain standards of performance we set for ourselves.
Vicarious Reinforcement
Vicarious reinforcement increases the likelihood of the observer behaving in a similar way to a model whose behaviour is reinforced. For example, a student who sees another student being allowed to leave a class early after correctly finishing all their work may be more inclined in another class to model the behaviour and respond in a similar way if they consider leaving class early a desirable outcome (a reinforcer).
Vicarious Punishment
Vicarious punishment occurs when the likelihood of an observer performing a particular behaviour decreases after having seen a model’s behaviour being punished. For example, a student may observe someone else in class receiving detention for calling out without permission. The observer is likely to refrain from that behaviour in the future if they view detention as an undesirable outcome (a punisher).
