Observational Learning

Observational Learning

In Bandura’s experiment, most children who watched an aggressive model

attack a Bobo model later imitated that behaviour. These photos show only one
of several specific actions that the children spontaneously imitated.

We learn many things through

observation and imitation of
others
 Observational Learning

Many work situations use

observational learning:
l  medical students watch

surgeons
l  trainee teachers watch

qualified teachers
l  apprentices watch trades

people
l  new employees watch their

supervisors
Observational Learning
TV and Aggression
This graph shows the average
number of aggressive acts per
minute before and after television
broadcasts were introduced into a
Canadian town. The increase in
aggression after television
watching began was significant.
Two other towns that already had
television were used for
comparison. Neither showed
significant increases in aggression
during the same time period. (Data
compiled from Joy et al., 1986.)
 Observational Learning
" Anti-social models (family, TV,
neighbourhood) à anti-social effects
" First 8 days after 1999 Columbine HS
massacre, every US state but one had
copycat incidents or threats
" Abusive parents à aggressive children
" Pro-social behaviour, e.g. Martin Luther
King Jnr à non-violent action for social
change
 Observational Learning

Acquisition describes the response by

which the behaviour is learned through
observation.
Performance is the process by which the
observer acts out the newly learned
response.
Acquisition of a behaviour, however, does
not automatically lead to its performance.
 Observational Learning
The Modelling Process

Attention
We must pay attention to the model’s behaviour

Retention
We must retain that information to recall later

Reproduction
We must be physically capable of reproducing
the model’s behaviour

Vicarious Reinforcement
We must be motivated to display the behaviour
 Observational Learning

Observational learning is valuable in

explaining complex human behaviours,
but animals can also learn through
observation.
 Observational Learning

What causes people to imitate others?

•  reinforcers and punishments (received

by the model)
•  we tend to imitate those who are similar
to us in some way