Transcript Learning by Observation - Oakton Community College

EXPLORING
PSYCHOLOGY
EIGHTH EDITION IN MODULES
David Myers
PowerPoint Slides
Aneeq Ahmad
Henderson State University
Worth Publishers, © 2011
Learning
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Learning by Observation
Module 19
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Mirrors In the Brain
Bandura’s Experiments
Applications of Observational
Learning
 Prosocial Observational Learning
 Antisocial Observational Learning
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Learning by Observation
Conditioning principles don’t explain all
learning.
Higher animals, especially humans, can
learn without direct experience, through
observational learning, by observing and
imitating others.
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Learning by Observation
The monkey on the right
imitates the monkey on
the left in touching the
pictures in a certain
order to obtain a
reward.
We learn all kinds of
behaviors through
modeling – observing
and imitating a specific
behavior.
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Mirror Neurons
Neuroscientists discovered mirror neurons – frontal lobe neurons
that fire when performing certain actions or when observing
another doing so – in the brains of animals and humans that are
active during observational learning.
PET scans of different brain areas shows that humans have a
mirror neuron system that supports empathy and imitation.
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Learning by observation
begins early in life. This
14-month-old child
imitates the adult on TV
in pulling a toy apart.
Meltzoff, A.N. (1998). Imitation of televised models by infants.
Child Development, 59 1221-1229. Photos Courtesy of A.N. Meltzoff and M. Hanuk.
Imitation Onset
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Bandura's Bobo doll
study (1961) indicated
that individuals
(children) learn
through imitating
others who receive
rewards and
punishments.
Courtesy of Albert Bandura, Stanford University
Bandura's Experiments
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Applications of Observational
Learning
Bandura’s studies show that models (family,
neighborhood or TV) may have good or bad
effects.
Businesses use behavior modeling to train to
train communications, sales, and customer
service skills. Trainees learn faster when both
they are both told and shown skills.
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Positive Observational Learning
Bob Daemmrich/ The Image Works
Positive models can have good effects by modeling
prosocial (positive, constructive, helpful) behavior .
Models are most effective when their words and actions
are consistent.
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Antisocial Observational Learning
Observational learning can also have antisocial effects.
Television, movies, and video games are a powerful source
of observational learning and studies have found a link
between viewing violent programs and aggressive behavior
– the violence-viewing effect.
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Antisocial Observational Learning
Children modeling after pro wrestlers
Glassman/ The Image Works
Bob Daemmrich/ The Image Works
The violence-viewing effect stems from two
factors – imitation and desensitization.
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