Download Observational Learning

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Psychology
Learning
Observational Learning
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How can conditioning occur indirectly?
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What are the key processes in observational learning?
People and animals don’t only learn by conditioning; they also learn
from observing others.
Observational Learning –
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Vicarious Conditioning – involves learning by watching others acquire
responses through classical conditioning or operant conditioning
Four key processes that are crucial in observational learning:
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2. Retention ___________________________________________________________________
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3. Reproduction ___________________________________________________________________
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Psychology
Learning
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4. Motivation ___________________________________________________________________
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Bandura and the Bobo Dolls
The person best known for research on observational learning is psychologist Albert
Bandura, who did some landmark experiments showing that children who watched
adults behaving aggressively were more likely to behave aggressively themselves. His
most famous experiment was the Bobo doll study. Bandura let a group of
kindergarteners watch a film of an adult violently attacking an inflatable plastic toy
shaped like Bobo the Clown by hitting it, sitting on it, hammering it, and so forth. He then
let the children into a room with Bobo dolls. The children precisely imitated the adult’s
behavior, gleefully attacking Bobo. Their behavior was a type of observational learning.
Source: http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/learning/section5.rhtml
Albert Bandura, Social Learning and His Bobo Doll Experiment (5:27)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCETgT_Xfzg
Pediatricians Fault Media Violence and Sex
Doctors' Group Takes Aim at TV, Music and Video Games
By TODD NEALE, Oct. 25, 2009
Violence and sex in music, movies, television and video games pose such a serious threat to children and
teenagers that the nation's chief organization of pediatricians wants doctors to do something about it.
"The evidence is now clear and convincing: media violence is one of the causal factors of real-life violence
and aggression," the American Academy of Pediatrics' council on communications and the media concluded
in one of two statements published in the November issue of Pediatrics.
Likewise, the group said, music plays an important part sending the wrong messages to youngsters about
sex, drugs, alcohol and tobacco, too.
When children show up for medical exams, doctors should ask them specific questions about how much and
what kind of music they listen to, how much time they spend on TV and video games, and whether they
have TV in their rooms.
The answers could be warning signs that prompt additional evaluations and talks with both parents and
children about the time they spend watching, listening and playing -- as well as way their time might be
better spent.
Psychology
Learning
Although concerns about violence on TV and games have long been an issue with parents' groups and
psychologists, the APA's panel cited studies suggesting that children and teens actually spend more time
listening to music than watching TV each day.
This can be an issue because parents are often unaware of the lyrics of the music to which their kids are
listening, especially when they're downloading music online and listening with earphones.
Lyrics have become more explicit in references to sex, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and violence, the authors
noted, and studies have linked a preference for certain types of music to specific behaviors.
For example, the kind of electronic music played at raves has been associated with use of drugs and
alcohol, while heavy metal and rap have been associated with reckless behavior and below-average
academic performance, the authors said.
Heavy metal and some types of rock music have also been associated with an increased risk of suicide,
depression, delinquency risk behavior, smoking, and conduct problems.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/media-violence-sex-threaten-kidspediatricians/story?id=8866443
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