Observational Learning

Observational learning

occurs when someone uses observation of a model actions and the consequences of their actions to guide their future actions

Model

who/what is being observed

Live model

real life person who is demonstrating

Symbolic model

real or fiction al model who is displaying behaviour in books, movies or Youtube…

Observational learning as conditioning

involves being conditioned indirectly by observing someone else’s conditioning. Often called vicarious conditioning

Vicarious

Living/imagining how life would be through someone else

Vicarious punishment

occurs when the likelihood of an observer performing a particular behaviour decreases after having seen a models behaviour being punished

Vicarious reinforcement

increases the likelihood of the observer behaving in a similar way to a model whose behaviour is reinforced

Key stages

1. Attention

2. Retention

3. Reproduction

4. Motivation

5. Reinforcement

Attention

Must closely watch a models behaviour and the consequences

Attention influences

• Motivation

• Interest

• Distractions

• Importance

• Idols

• Familiarity

Retention

Remembering the models behaviour

Reproduction

Imitating the observed behaviour

Reproduction influences

Whether or not you have the skill/ability to produce the behaviour

Motivation

Wanting to reproduce the behaviour

Reinforcement

Whether the behaviour observed received was given punishment or reinforcement

Self reinforcement

By meeting certain standard of performance we set for ourselves