Table of Contents
What is the theory of observational learning?
Observational learning is the process of learning by watching the behaviors of others. The targeted behavior is watched, memorized, and then mimicked. Also known as shaping and modeling, observational learning is most common in children as they imitate behaviors of adults. Observational learning is a major component of Bandura’s social learning theory. He also emphasized that four conditions were necessary in any form of observing and modeling behavior: attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. These ideas include; attention, retention, reproduction and motivation. A learner ought to engage all of his/her undivided attention to the process of observation. This ensures every detail of the actions is well captured for imitation to be successful. SLT foundational concepts People learn through observation. Reinforcement and punishment have an indirect effect on behavior and learning. Cognitive factors contribute to whether a behavior is acquired.
What is an example of observational learning?
Learning new skills: Children and adults can learn new skills through observational learning. A child can learn how to paint her nails by watching their mom, or an adult may learn to lift weights by watching others on videos. Observational learning has the potential to teach and reinforce or decrease certain behaviors based on a variety of factors. Particularly prevalent in childhood, observational learning can be a key part of how we learn new skills and learn to avoid consequences. People watch others perform a skill, remember what they have observed, and later replicate this knowledge through their own behaviors. This type of learning is often associated with psychologist Albert Bandura and his social learning theory. Observational learning is a form of social learning. The importance of observational learning lies in helping individuals, especially children, acquire new responses by observing others’ behavior. Albert Bandura states that people’s behavior could be determined by their environment. Observational learning occurs through observing negative and positive behaviors.
What are the characteristics of observational learning?
Observational learning is an important component of human learning. According to Bandura (1965), observational learning is characterized by 4 stages: attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation. Observational learning, also called social learning theory, occurs when an observer’s behavior changes after viewing the behavior of a model. An observer’s behavior can be affected by the positive or negative consequences–called vicarious reinforcement or vicarious punishment– of a model’s behavior. – Albert Bandura As the creator of the concept of social learning theory, Bandura proposes five essential steps in order for the learning to take place: observation, attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. Benefits of Observation It helps in gathering information and details- This helps parents, teachers, and guides to respond rather than react to situations. It helps in observing changes in a child’s development during their sensitive periods. It helps parents, teachers, and guides to embrace that every child is unique. Social learning theory, proposed by Albert Bandura, emphasizes the importance of observing, modelling, and imitating the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others. Social learning theory considers how both environmental and cognitive factors interact to influence human learning and behavior. Watson, a psychologist of behaviourist thought, is considered to be the father of observation method. Observation is a process of ‘seeing’ the things or events with naked eye with or without the use of any device to unravel the complexity of any phenomena to satisfy the demands of an empirical question.
What is Bandura’s observational learning theory?
Albert Bandura’s social learning theory suggests that observation and modeling play a primary role in how and why people learn. Bandura’s theory goes beyond the perception of learning being the result of direct experience with the environment. Albert Bandura is well regarded for his Social Cognitive Theory. It is a learning theory based on the ideas that people learn by watching what others do, and that human thought processes are central to understanding personality. Social learning theory is the philosophy that people can learn from each other through observation, imitation and modeling. Bandura identified three kinds of models: live, verbal, and symbolic. A live model demonstrates a behavior in person, as when Ben stood up on his surfboard so that Julian could see how he did it.
What is observation theory in psychology?
Conclusively, Albert Bandura’s observational theory (1970) constitutes that violent behavior is learned through imitating observed behaviors that we notice in our surrounding environment. Bandura connected our brain activity to instinctual responses to the observed actions surrounding us. There are four processes that Bandura’s research identified as influencing observational learning: attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation (Debell, 2021). Sometimes the behavior of participants is observed through a two-way mirror or they are secretly filmed. This method was used by Albert Bandura to study aggression in children (the Bobo doll studies). The important conclusion of these studies is that behavior change can and does occur through observation, even when such observation is incidental, occurring in the context of other activities. While this finding seems rather simple, it has significant implications for how we conceptualize learning.