Transcript The History and Scope of Psychology Module 1

Learning by
Observation
Module 23
1
Learning by Observation
Learning by Observation
 Bandura’s Experiments
 Applications of Observational
Learning
2
Learning by Observation
© Herb Terrace
Higher animals
especially humans learn
through observing and
imitating others.
©Herb Terrace
Monkey on the right
imitates monkey on the
left in touching the
pictures in a certain
order to get reward.
3
Reprinted with permission from the American
Association for the Advancement of Science,
Subiaul et al., Science 305: 407-410 (2004)
© 2004 AAAS.
Mirror Neurons
Neuroscientist have discovered (mirror) neurons
in the brain of animals and humans that activate
during observational learning.
4
Learning by observation
comes about 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
5
Bandura's Bobo doll
study (1961) indicated
that individuals
(children) learn through
imitating others who
receive reward and
punishments.
Courtesy of Albert Bandura, Stanford University
Bandura's Experiments
6
Applications of Observational
Learning
Bad news from
Bandura’s studies is
that antisocial models
(family, neighborhood
or TV) may have
antisocial effects.
7
Positive Observational Learning
Bob Daemmrich/ The Image Works
The good news is that prosocial (positive,
helpful) models can have prosocial effects.
8
Gentile et al., (2004)
showed that elementary
school going children
who were exposed to
violent television,
videos and video games
expressed increased
aggression.
Ron Chapple/ Taxi/ Getty Images
Television and Observational
Learning
9
Modeling Violence
Children modeling after pro wrestlers
Glassman/ The Image Works
Bob Daemmrich/ The Image Works
Research has shown that viewing media violence
does lead to increased expression of aggression.
10