Observational Learning.docx
- 1. Observational Learning Introduction It was introduced by Albert Bandura (Dec, 4th 1925 – Jul, 26th 2021) a Canadian-American Psychologist. He was a professor of psychology at Stanford University. He proposed an experiment in 1961 called Bobo doll experiment which demonstrated observational learning. He states that people’s behaviour could be set on by their environment. Observational learning is also called Modelling or Social learning. It is the learning which occurs through observing the behaviour of others, such as watching or listening. It is the form of Social learning which takes various forms and is based on various processes. The person who is being observed is known as a Model. When a person first learns behaviour by observing a model and then other person observes the first person and learns that behaviour and so on this cycle continues, this chain is known as Diffusion Chain In humans this type of learning requires a social model such as parent, sibling, friend, teacher or somebody else in the surroundings. A model is someone of authority, higher status, talented or similar the observer in any way especially in childhood. In animals observational learning is mostly based on classical conditioning in which an instinctive behaviour is elicited by observing the behaviour of others, such as mobbing in birds and learning hunting skills in wolves. There are four factors which influence the observational learning Attention Retention/Memory Reproduction Motivation Attention To learn, an observer must pay attention to something in the environment. They must notice the model and the behaviour occurring. Attention levels can be different based on characteristics of the Model and environment, such as how much one likes or identifies the model and current mood of the observer. Retention/Memory Simple attention is not enough to learn a new behaviour. An observer must also remember the behaviour at a later time. This process depends on the observer’s ability to code or structure the information in an easily remembered form or to rehearse the model’s actions mentally or physically with no effort. Reproduction The behavior is remembered. But can it be performed in real-life?
- 2. Reproduction is the process where the observer must be able to physically perform the behavior in the real-world. In many cases, the observer possesses the necessary responses. But sometimes, reproducing the model's actions may involve skills the observer has not yet acquired. Often, producing a new behavior requires hours of practice to obtain the skills. It is one thing to carefully watch a circus juggler, but it is quite another to go home and repeat those acts. Motivation All learning requires some degree of personal motivation. The observer must have motivation to recreate the observed behavior. Sometimes this motivation is intrinsic (Natural) to the observer. Other times, motivation can come in the form of external reinforcement, rewards and punishments. Examples A child watches their mother eat dinner with a fork. They observe the behavior and quickly learn how to use a fork themselves. A high-school basketball player watches Stephen Curry shoot free-throws. They observe details such as the number of ball dribbles and hand follow through patterns, then try to mimic the behavior themselves.