LC222@30

Modeling and Imitation Learning

Observational Learning: LEARNING THROUGH NONPARTICIPTORY OBSERVATION/Vicarious learning

So far we have concentrated on learning which occurs through direct contact with personal experience. Classical, Instrumental, and Operant: Direct personal experience is the only way to learn.

Merely watching or hearing the experience of other can have an effect on what we learn. Observational learning is quite pervasive, figuring predominantly in our learning of language, thought patterns, attitudes, skills. The fact that it can occur without responding and reinforcement poses yet another challenge to S-R theory. Obviously you do not have to perform to learn.

Varieties of Observational learning

1) Symbolic: learning via films, reading , listening

2) Direct: model exhibits direct behavior (verbal instructions)

3) Abstract: social transmission of concepts, self-guidance training for impulsive children

4) Participatory: don't just look but participate snake phobia

Research examples

I. Bandura and modeling (1963)

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Television and aggression overhead (Williams, 1982)

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II. Mineka (1984) take phobia in Rhesus Monkeys

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Overhead

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Experiment 1: young monkeys raised by parents who have a fear of snakes do not acquire this fear in the absence of specific experiences with snakes

Experiment 2: However, 5 or 6 adolescents rhesus monkeys acquired an intense fear of snakes by observing their wild-reared parents

behave fearfully in the presence of real, toy, and model snakes.

Snake phobia not innate in monkeys!

III> Bandura and phobics (1977)

Subjects were snake phobic adults

Treatment conditions: Success rate

1) control no treatment 0% 2) systematic desensitization *25%

3) film modeling 34%

4) live modeling with performance 92%

IV. Lavin poisoned partner effect and transfer by observation

V, Garlington and DeRicco (1977) Peers influence on college drinking. Subjects told they were participating in a study in normal drinking patterns.

Fastrate/cconfederate--

Baserate-------- baserate--

slowrate-------

VI. Generosity and altruism greatly enhanced if observers sees a model give or help in advance.