Vicarious learning

Question 1

What is the basic question of vicarious learning?

Answer 1

Can one organism learn by observing the experience of another

Question 2

What researcher brought attention to the fact that vicarious learning is a thing?

Answer 2

Bandura, earlier research found the opposite and warden never got attention

Question 3

What is vicarious learning?

Answer 3

A change in behaviour due to the experience of observing a model, aka observational learning

Question 4

Why is vicarious Pavlovian conditioning unlikely?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Does vicarious operant learning exist?

Answer 5

Yes, as does vicarious avoidance learning

- has been demonstrated in children and adults

Question 6

What is a common result of animal vicarious operant learning studies?

Answer 6

The slowest learning observer does as well as the fastest learning model

Question 7

How can adult imitation of a model be influenced by punishment of the model?

Answer 7

Failure to punish modelled criminal behaviour may be the reason it’s imitated

Question 8

Are vicarious learning and imitation the same thing?

Answer 8

No, they are related but not synonymous.

imitation does not imply that learning has occurred

Question 9

Does failure to imitate a model mean learning has not occurred?

Answer 9

No, in fact imitation can sometimes indicate that no learning has occurred

Question 10

Can imitation happen even when the model’s behaviour is not reinforced?

Answer 10

Yes, this is generalized imitation

Question 11

What is generalized imitation and why does it happen?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Is imitation itself a behaviour?

Answer 12

Yes, it can be strengthened or weakened depending on its consequences

Question 13

What variables affect vicarious learning?

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

What are the meaningful consequences of the model’s behaviour?

Answer 14

Consistent reinforcement or punishment of the model’s behaviour

Question 15

What are the meaningful consequences of the observer’s behaviour?

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

What are the meaningful characteristics of the model?

Answer 16

• observers learn better if the model is attractive, likeable and prestigious
• status, likeability, sex, age, competence
• SOMETHING THAT ATTRACTS THE OBSERVER’S ATTENTION

Question 17

Why are model characteristics important?

Answer 17

Because they induce the observer to look at the model

- they also have a strong effect on the tendency to imitate

Question 18

Why is the observer’s age important?

Answer 18

• younger are more likely to imitate a model

- different effects with different age groups

Question 19

What age learns better from observation?

Answer 19

The older: adults, except elderly

Question 20

Why is learning history important?

Answer 20

• 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

Question 21

What are other variables affecting vicarious operant learning?

Answer 21

• emotional state can interfere- the Venus effect

Question 22

What are the main theories of vicarious learning?

Answer 22

• Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory

- Miller-Dollard’s Reinforcement theory

Question 23

What is Bandura’s social cognitive theory of vicarious learning?

Answer 23

Based on 4 process occurring during or after observation of a model

• attentional
• retentional
• motor reproductive
• motivational

Question 24

What are attentional processes?

Answer 24

The organism observing the relevant aspects of the model’s behaviour and its consequences

Question 25

What are retentional processes?

Answer 25

Acts the observer performs to aid recall of the model’s behaviour

• representing the model’s behaviour with words
• repeatedly performing the model’s behaviour

Question 26

What are motor reproductive processes?

Answer 26

The observer must be physically capable of performing the behaviour

Question 27

What are motivational processes?

Answer 27

When the observer has an expectation that an imitated behaviour will produce reinforcement, otherwise it won’t be performed
- instrumental in determining whether a modelled behaviour will be imitated

Question 28

What is the Miller-Dollard Reinforcement theory?

Answer 28

The changes in an observer’s behaviour are due to the consequences of the observer’s behaviour, not the model
-To treat vicarious learning as a variation of operant learning

Question 29

In M-D theory, why would an observer imitate even when the model is no longer there?

Answer 29

Because people continue to be influenced by a stimulus that is no longer present

Question 30

What is the bigger problem with the M-D theory?

Answer 30

That imitation often occurs in absence of reinforcement of the observer’s behaviour

Question 31

What is the basic difference between the two theories?

Answer 31

They are different ideas about the nature of scientific explanation, what constitutes

• Bandura explanation inside the individual and their cog processes
• MD explanation is situation and observer learning history

Question 32

What are motor reproductive processes?

Answer 32

The observer must be physically capable of performing the behaviour

Question 33

What are motivational processes?

Answer 33

When the observer has an expectation that an imitated behaviour will produce reinforcement, otherwise it won’t be performed
- instrumental in determining whether a modelled behaviour will be imitated

Question 34

What is the Miller-Dollard Reinforcement theory?

Answer 34

The changes in an observer’s behaviour are due to the consequences of the observer’s behaviour, not the model
-To treat vicarious learning as a variation of operant learning

Question 35

In M-D theory, why would an observer imitate even when the model is no longer there?

Answer 35

Because people continue to be influenced by a stimulus that is no longer present

Question 36

What is the bigger problem with the M-D theory?

Answer 36

That imitation often occurs in absence of reinforcement of the observer’s behaviour

Question 37

What is the basic difference between the two theories?

Answer 37

They are different ideas about the nature of scientific explanation, what constitutes

• Bandura explanation inside the individual and their cog processes
• MD explanation is situation and observer learning history

Question 38

What are the three notable applications for vicarious learning?

Answer 38

• foraging
• crime and television
• therapy for phobias

Question 39

What is participant modelling?

Answer 39

The combination of modelling with traditional counterconditioning