DO NOW: On a piece of paper that you will use ALL WEEK, tell me: The four types of partial reinforcement schedules. Which is best for long term changes in behavior and why?

Observational Learning AP Psychology Ms. Desgrosellier

LEARNING BY OBSERVATION Objective: SWBAT describe the process of observational learning, and explain the importance of the discovery of mirror neurons.

LEARNING BY OBSERVATION Among higher animals, learning can occur without direct experience. Observational learning: learning by observing others and then imitating them.  e.g. A child who observes someone burning their fingers on the stove has then learned not to touch it.

LEARNING BY OBSERVATION Modeling: the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior.  This can be seen by simply looking at how trends and fashion move.  memes: transmitted cultural elements that travel by imitation.

LEARNING BY OBSERVATION mirror neurons: frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so.  The brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation, language learning, and empathy.  Discovered by neuroscientists.  Studied in monkeys; when a monkey performs a task like grasping or holding, these neurons fire. They also fire when observing another monkey performing the same task.

LEARNING BY OBSERVATION PET scans have shown that humans also have mirror neurons in the same area, that also serves language.  Mirror neurons help give children the ability called theory of mind, or inferring another’s mental state.  Seeing a loved one in pain can trigger some of the same brain activity in an empathetic person.

LEARNING BY OBSERVATION

Imitation of models can start as young as shortly after birth in infants. This imitation will continue throughout a child’s life and parents can use this to help shape their children.

Bandura’s Experiments Objective: SWBAT describe Bandura’s findings on what determines whether we will imitate a model.

Bandura’s Experiments Albert Bandura was the pioneering researcher of observational learning. He would split a group of children into two groups.  The first group would watch an adult play normally and calmly with a bunch of toys, including a bobo doll.  The second group would watch an adult pound, kick, and throw the bobo doll around the room while yelling at it.

Bandura’s Experiments He would split a group of children into two groups.  The children would then be led to a room of good toys and be allowed to play for a few minutes.  The experimenter would return and tell them that they were going to save these toys “for the other children” and then take the participants to a room with less toys and a bobo doll.

Bandura’s Experiments He would split a group of children into two groups.  The children who saw the adult play normally also played normally.  The children who saw the adult beat up the bobo doll were more likely to lash out at the adult, sometimes using the exact same acts and words.

Bandura’s Experiments

Bandura believes that reinforcements and punishments determine whether we will imitate a model.  This includes ones given to the model and the observer.  By looking, we learn to anticipate a behavior’s consequences in situations like those we are observing.

Bandura’s Experiments o We are especially likely to imitate people we perceive as similar to ourselves, successful, or admirable.

Applications of Observational Learning Antisocial models may have antisocial effects. By watching TV shows, children may “learn” that physical intimidation is an effective way to control others, that men are always tough, and women are always gentle.

Applications of Observational Learning Observational learning also helps us understand why abused people can sometimes become abusers themselves.  Critics note that multigenerational abusers may be a result of genetics.  But at least in monkeys, we know it can be environmental. In many studies, monkeys raised with high levels of aggression when reared apart from their mothers grew up to be perpetrators of aggression.

Positive Observational Learning Objective: SWBAT discuss the impact of prosocial modeling.

Positive Observational Learning prosocial behavior: positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior. E.g. Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr. both drew on the power of modeling to make nonviolent action a powerful force for social change.

Positive Observational Learning Observational learning of morality begins early in a child’s life and draws heavily on their primary caregivers. Models are most effective when their actions and words are consistent.  Exposed to a hypocrite, children tend to imitate the hypocrisy be doing what the model did and saying what the model said.

Television and Observational Learning Objective: SWBAT explain why correlations cannot prove that watching violent TV causes violent behavior, and cite some experimental evidence that helps demonstrate a cause-effect link.

Television and Observational Learning Television is a major source of observational learning. During their first 18 years of life, most children in developed countries spend more time in front of the TV than in school. There has been a lot of data collected on TV, about who was featured, what they did, etc.

Television and Observational Learning Does watching violent TV cause people to be violent? Correlational studies do link violence with viewing violent behavior.

Television and Observational Learning Experimental studies have shown that violence on television does lead to aggressive behavior by children and teenagers who watch the programs.  This is especially true when an attractive person commits seemingly justified, realistic violence that goes unpunished and causes no visible pain or harm.

Television and Observational Learning

The violence effect seems to come from imitation. Prolonged exposure to violence also desensitizes viewers – they become more indifferent to it when later viewing violence.

Television and Observational Learning Bandura, Pavlov, Watson and Skinner helped illustrate the impact that can result from single-minded devotion to a few well- defined problems and ideas.  They defined the issues and impressed on us the importance of learning.