Chapter 10: Observational Learning

Define observational learning

Learning by observing events and their consequences

Differentiate between social and asocial types

Social: learning from the observation of a model and the consequences of the models behavior

Asocial: observer views an event and its positive or negative consequences

Define imitation

Copying the behavior of a model exactly

How can one use the two-action test to assess “true imitation”?

Create a task for which two different actions have the same outcomes. One group watches Action 1 and a second group watched Action 2. If observers later perform the technique they observed then true imitation occurred

What is over-imitation?

The tendency to imitate obviously irrelevant acts

Define emulation and how is it different from imitation?

Reproducing an observed outcome without replicating the actions the model used to achieve that outcome; different from imitation because imitation requires doing the exact behaviors of the model

Define emotional contagion and how it’s different from imitation?

The inborn tendency to react emotionally to sights or sounds of emotion in other members of one’s species (smiling at a baby and it smiles back); Different from imitation because it is specific to emotion

Define observational conditioning and how it’s different from imitation?

When an individual learns an emotional response after observing similar responses in others (someone making a face of disgust to specific food and you may develop an aversion to that food); Different because it is specific to emotional response and no consequences

What are mirror neurons and how are they involved in observational learning?

Neurons that fire the same way during performance of an action and during observation of that action. They provide a link between seeing an action and doing that action

Discuss the differences in imitative behavior of those with ASD

Individuals with ASD do not reliably copy the actions of others

Ability to replicate meaningless gestures and “nonsense” actions are more likely to be impaired

How does difficulty of the task affect observational learning?

Inverse relationship between task difficulty and learning via observation.

Observing a model perform a difficult task improves the likelihood of success

How does skill of the model affect observational learning?

Depending on the difficulty of the task, the skill level of the model may matter (skilled = can see exactly how to do it vs. unskilled = seeing trial and error)

How does characteristics of the model affect observational learning?

Model should resemble the learner (peer) or should have high status (teacher, coach)

How does characteristics of the observer affect observational learning?

Humans seem the most prepared to learn via observation and most heavily reinforced

Learning history (the experience you have with observational learning)

Developmental age (younger people tend to imitate while older people tend to recall more detail)

Name and describe the four components of the behavioral skills training (BST) procedure

1. Instruction: describe the expected behavior (appropriate level of complexity, credible teacher, ensure learner attends to instructions)

2. Modeling: demonstrate the correct behavior for the learner (reinforce model, proper context)

3. Rehearsal: learner practices the behavior after receiving instructions and watching a model demonstrate the behavior (start with easy things and deliver reinforcement immediately)

4. Feedback: praise (or other reinforcers) for correct performance and further instruction after incorrect performance

How can you enhance generalization following BST?

Assessment of skills in the natural environment when the learner is unaware that they are being assessed and if the learner doesn’t perform the behavior a trainer enters and begins BST.