Observational Learning
RG 6d
Modified PowerPoint from: Aneeq Ahmad -- Henderson State
University. Worth Publishers © 2007
Learning by Observation
Higher animals
especially humans learn
through observing and
imitating others.
Monkey on the right
imitates monkey on the
left in touching the
pictures in a certain
order to get reward.
© Herb
Terrace
©Herb
Terrace
Bandura's Theory
Observational Learning occurs
in 4 stages…
1.Paying attention & perceiving
features of another’s behavior
2.Remembering the behavior
3.Reproducing the behavior
4.Being motivated to learn and
carry out the behavior
Bandura's Experiments
Bandura's Bobo doll study
(1961) indicated that individuals
(children) learn through imitating
others who receive reward and
punishments…when children
watched adults being rewarded
for aggression, they too acted
aggressively when in a room
with the Bobo doll.
Applications of Observational
Learning
The good news from studies is
that prosocial (positive, helpful)
models can have prosocial
effects.
Bad news from Bandura’s
studies is that antisocial models
(family, neighborhood or TV)
may have antisocial effects.
Television and Observational
Learning
Between the ages of 5 and
15, the average child will
witness at least 13,000
violent deaths on TV
Gentile et al., (2004)
showed that elementary
school going children who
were exposed to violent
television, videos and video
games expressed increased
aggression.
Ron Chapple/ Taxi/ G
Images
Other implications of
observation…
We don’t necessarily imitate EVERYTHING we
see...we are more likely to imitate those…
●who we perceive as similar to us
●who are successful and admirable
●behaviors are being reinforced, rather than
punished
●whose actions and words are consistent (if
exposed to hypocrisy, will model actions and