observational learning

• observational learning: a type of social learning where a person learns new info/behaviors by observing the behaviors of others
• bobo doll study (albert bandura): children model/imitate behavior of adults
• you are more likely to imitate:

  • people who are rewarded for their behavior
  • warm, nurturant people
  • controlling, influential, social status people
  • people similar to you
  • when task is easy
  • if you lack confidence/are in an unfamiliar situation
  • if you were rewarded for imitating behavior in the past
• Media influence: TV shows, movies, online videos promote antisocial (negative, unhelpful, deconstructive) effects
• Vicarious learning: a phenomenon where we learn by vicariously experiencing what others are experiencing (the same areas of our brains light up)
• Imitation: copying the actions or behaviors of others without understanding the reasoning behind it, vs. Modeling: the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
• Prosocial behaviors: positive, constructive, helpful behavior; the opposite of antisocial behavior