Observational Learning

observational learning

• learning by observing the behavior of others

• we learn by imitating others

modeling

• imitating others’ behavior

• how we learned to speak

• learning how to do surgery

Bandura

• experiments with Bobo doll

• child imitated the parents behavior and went to the bobo doll and started to hit it instead of going to the other toys because they observed their parents or older person do it

• demonstrated that kids learn by observing, particularly with modeling

does exposure to violence on TV increase aggression?

• children exposed to either violent TV show or nonviolent sporting even

  • violent TV → much more aggression against other children

• Studies on agression:

  • 2 groups of kids

    • one group was shown violent shows and the other was shown sports

    • play with toys → the ones who watched violent TV shows played more aggressively compared to the ones who had watched the sport shows

    • seeing violence on screen makes them more aggressive afterward

  • teachers of kids rate their levels of aggression (trait aggression)

    • one group watched violence show

    • one group watched non-violent show

    • played floor hockey after

    • finding:

      • kids who watched violent shows were more aggressive if they were rated as aggressive by their teacher

      • seeing violence on screen, they became more aggressive if they had aggressive inclinations

      • seeing violent shows and did not have violent inclinations, they were not aggressive.

• exposed to violence on TV in particular

  • see many, many violent TV shows

• very small but significant associations between seeing violence on screen and being violent ourselves

• playing a lot of violent video games does not mean you will be more aggressive

  • means across people who play violent video games, there is a slight increase risk of being aggressive but it doesn’t mean apply to state wide.

• numbing:

  • see more violence, more numb to it

  • study of watching boxing:

    • participants who did not see a lot of violence (in TV and video games) got arouse (more tense, heart racing)

    • Participants who did see a lot of violence did not get arouse because they were used to it.

Prosocial behavior

• Exposure to prosocial models

  • being generous, kind, helpful

    • see behavior in this way, we often think more helpful ourselves

  • Observations of others providing help → more likely to help

• empty tip jar from the day before, put money in it so others are more likely to tip. signal for people to tip here so it increases tips because they see people that here

• red bucket with santa, you are a little more likely to donate if you see someone else donate

• kids who watch more prosocial TV, tend to be more prosocial (such as helping others)

  • ex: wonder pets theme song (we’ll help you) and helping others

• studies with children:

  • watching something and then they are interrpuated by puppies in need and see if they will help the puppies

  • depends on if they were watching a prosocial show beforehand

  • imitate from social behavior as well

• this is beneficial because it leads to helpfulness