Albert Bandura and Observational Learning

What things did you have to watch/observe in order to learn?

Module 17: Observational Learning

Observational Learning• Learning by observing and watching others (the model)

Model

• In observational learning, the person whose behavior the subject watches and imitates

Modeling

• The process of observing and imitating a specific behavior

Albert Bandura (1925- )

• American psychologist who has done major studies in observational learning

• Studies the consequences a model has on subjects

• Bobo Doll experiments

The Bobo Doll Experiments

• Child is playing in a room when an adult in the room begins a series of violent behaviors…to a Bobo Doll.– While beating Bobo, the adult

would shout things like, “sock him in the nose…Hit him down…kick him”.

• Next kids went to a play room with lots of toys.

• When kid was happily playing the researcher would make them stop b/c cool toys were for other kids

• Frustrated child not taken to another room with few toys – including Bobo.– How do you think the child

behaved towards Bobo?

• Child shown aggressive behavior earlier mimicked exact behavior.

Bobo Doll Experiment

Testing Vicarious Learning• What are the effects of consequences delivered

to the model…would it effect the observer???• Vicarious learning:

– Learning by seeing the consequence of another’s behavior

• Bandura made a film of adult beating Bobo to show children; were three endings researchers could chose from:– 1. Adult model is praised.– 2. Adult model is punished. – 3. The model receives neither a reward or

punishment. • How will these children's behavior differ?

Results• After viewing the video, each group of children

spent time with the Bobo doll.– Group #1: behaved most aggressively in the play

room.– Group #2: behaved least aggressively.

• Has Vicarious learning taken place?

Modeling Requirements

• Bandura suggests four requirements for effective modeling to occur:

– Attention

– Retention

– Ability to reproduce the behavior

– Motivation

Observational Learning in Everyday

Life

Module 17: Observational Learning

Anti-social/Pro-social Behavior

• Anti-social behavior - negative, destructive unhelpful behavior

• Pro-social behavior – positive, constructive, helpful behavior

• Both types of behavior can be modeled effectively.– What do we call model’s of pro-social behavior?

• Examples of celebrities who are in between?

Observational Learning of Violence From the Media

Can you think of any violent shows or video games you have played/seen?

Could observational learning take place?Could vicarious learning take place?

Module 17: Observational Learning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zerCK0lRjp8