Vicarious learning Flashcards
What is the basic question of vicarious learning?
Can one organism learn by observing the experience of another
What researcher brought attention to the fact that vicarious learning is a thing?
Bandura, earlier research found the opposite and warden never got attention
What is vicarious learning?
A change in behaviour due to the experience of observing a model, aka observational learning
Why is vicarious Pavlovian conditioning unlikely?
Because the conditional responses in observers could be due to higher-order classical conditioning rather than vicarious, they never saw the unconditioned stimulus paired with the CS
Does vicarious operant learning exist?
Yes, as does vicarious avoidance learning
- has been demonstrated in children and adults
What is a common result of animal vicarious operant learning studies?
The slowest learning observer does as well as the fastest learning model
How can adult imitation of a model be influenced by punishment of the model?
Failure to punish modelled criminal behaviour may be the reason it’s imitated
Are vicarious learning and imitation the same thing?
No, they are related but not synonymous.
imitation does not imply that learning has occurred
Does failure to imitate a model mean learning has not occurred?
No, in fact imitation can sometimes indicate that no learning has occurred
Can imitation happen even when the model’s behaviour is not reinforced?
Yes, this is generalized imitation
What is generalized imitation and why does it happen?
The general tendency to imitate
- it’s the product of experience, to observe and imitate successful models because it is reinforced or has been in the past
Is imitation itself a behaviour?
Yes, it can be strengthened or weakened depending on its consequences
What variables affect vicarious learning?
- consequences of the model’s behaviour
- consequences of the observer’s behaviour
- characteristics of the model
- observer’s age
- observer’s learning history
- other variables
What are the meaningful consequences of the model’s behaviour?
Consistent reinforcement or punishment of the model’s behaviour
What are the meaningful consequences of the observer’s behaviour?
- whether observation pays off: If an observer is successful it will not or will stop observing the model
If an observer fails, it will watch models - the consequences of imitation: if the behaviour produces a different consequence for the observer than the model, the observer will go with what worked for them, not M
What are the meaningful characteristics of the model?
- observers learn better if the model is attractive, likeable and prestigious
- status, likeability, sex, age, competence
- SOMETHING THAT ATTRACTS THE OBSERVER’S ATTENTION
Why are model characteristics important?
Because they induce the observer to look at the model
- they also have a strong effect on the tendency to imitate
Why is the observer’s age important?
- younger are more likely to imitate a model
- different effects with different age groups
What age learns better from observation?
The older: adults, except elderly
Why is learning history important?
- imitation is more likely when that behaviour already has a basis of reinforcement in the observer
- age and history are linked, more practice with age
What are other variables affecting vicarious operant learning?
- emotional state can interfere- the Venus effect
What are the main theories of vicarious learning?
- Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory
- Miller-Dollard’s Reinforcement theory
What is Bandura’s social cognitive theory of vicarious learning?
Based on 4 process occurring during or after observation of a model
- attentional
- retentional
- motor reproductive
- motivational
What are attentional processes?
The organism observing the relevant aspects of the model’s behaviour and its consequences
