Observational Learning

1. Observational Learning Accelerated Psychology Council Rock South

2. Observational Learning • Definition: Learning by watching what others do and what happen to them for doing it. • Scientists have always acknowledged the importance of observational learning, which they call vicarious conditioning. • Albert Bandura and his colleagues showed how important observational learning is by testing children in a nursery-school.

3. Bandura • Bandura came up with the “Bobo Doll” experiment. • He made children watch a video of someone kicking a bobo doll to see what they would do when they were with it by themselves after watching the video. • Learned children were more aggressive! Bandura YouTube

4. Modeling: The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior. • Shapes children’s development • Ideas, fashions, and habits pass by imitation • Transmit cultural elements

5. Pro-Social Vs. Antisocial Learning • Pro-Social Learning: • Positive, helpful behavior • People who exemplify nonviolent behavior can prompt similar behavior in others • Examples: Martin Luther King & Gandhi • Antisocial Learning: • Negative, hurtful behavior • People who display negative behavior may prompt others to cause damage to society • Examples: Hitler & Stalin • Milgram Obedience Study • Dr. Phil’s Stanford Prison Experiment • Asch Conformity Experiment

6. Latent Learning Latent learning is learning that is not immediately expressed in performance. Latent learning is already attained knowledge being put to use in an unfamiliar task or circumstance . Example: A young boy watches his dad work with screws/tools, but doesn’t use tools for many years. Without any instruction, he is able to perform the task.