Observational learning.

Question 1

Define observational learning.

Answer 1

A type of learning that happens indirectly through a process of watching others then imitating their behaviour, also known as modelling.

Question 2

What is Bandura’s 4-step process for observational learning?

Answer 2

1 - Attention: the individual notices something in the environment.
2 - Retention: the individual remembers what was noticed.
3 - Reproduction: the individual produces action that is a copy of what was noticed.
4 - Motivation: the environment delivers a consequence that changes the likelihood of the behaviour being produced again.

Question 3

What is vicarious reinforcement?

Answer 3

If a model is reinforced by their behaviour, the individual will be more likely to reproduce this behaviour.

Question 4

What is vicarious punishment?

Answer 4

If a model is punished for their behaviour, the individual is less likely to reproduce this behaviour.

Question 5

State and describe the differences between operant conditioning and observational learning.

Answer 5

• OPC(emphasises the importance of the organism’s direct experience when learning), OB(suggests that learning can occur indirectly through observation)
• OPC(no distinction between learning and performance), OB(distinguishes between learning and performance. Learning can occur but not be demonstarted unless there is motivation to perform the learnt behaviour)
• OPC(does not include the role of cognition in the learning process), OB(the learner must attend to the model’s behaviour and its consequences, and then store a mental representation of it)

Question 6

List and describe the similarities between operant conditioning and observational learning.

Answer 6

• The learner is active in both learning processes
• It is reinforcement (rather than learning itself) that influences the likelihood of the behaviour being imitated by the observer.

Question 7

What is latent behaviour?

Answer 7

Learning can occur but not be demonstarted unless there is motivation to perform the learnt behaviour.

Question 8

What is vicarious conditioning?

Answer 8

An observer learns the consequences of a behaviour by observing these consequences occurring to someone other than themselves.

Question 9

What were the results from the bobo doll study?

Answer 9

Children who observed an aggressive model were more likel to model this behaviour across both groups. Modelling was generally higher when the sex of the model matched the sex of the child exposed to the behaviour.

Question 10

List the factors that increase the likelihood that a behaviour will be imitated.

Answer 10

People…
- we perceive as warm and nurturing
- receive rewards for their behaviour
- in an authoritive position in our lives
- similar to us in age, sex and interests
- who we admire or who are of a higher social status
- we have been rewarded for imitating thr behaviour in the past
- when we lack confidence in our own knowledge or abilities
- when the situation is confusing, ambiguous or unfamiliar

Question 11

What are mirror neurons?

Answer 11

A type of cell in the brains of certain animals and humans that responds in the same way to a given action whether the organism performs the action itself or sees another perform the same action.