1. Observational Learning
Unit 7: Learning
AP Psychology
Mr. Ng

2. Observational Learning
Observational Learning: learning by watching others.
Ex. Copying dance moves.
Modeling: observing and imitating a specific behavior. A form of observational learning.
Ex. “I do, you do”, Math examples
We imitate so much in modern society, we gave it a name: memes.
Fashion, music, foods, technology…

3. Observational Learning
Albert Bandura: psychologist responsible for famous “Bobo Doll” experiment.
Recent survey ranked him th most frequently cited psychologist behind Skinner, Freud, and Piaget.
Considered the greatest living psychologist and one of most influential psychologists of all time.

4. Observational Learning
Bobo Doll Experiments
Bandura studied children’s behavior after watching an adult model aggression (beat up) towards a Bobo doll.
Results were that children exposed to aggressive models were more likely to act in physically aggressive ways.

5. Observational Learning
Children observing adult behavior are influenced to think their behavior is acceptable, good or bad.
Conclusion: we are especially likely to imitate people we perceive as similar to ourselves, as successful, or as admirable.
Unfortunately, people copy bad behavior…do you????

6. Observational Learning
Extending Bandura’s research…
Just like imitating bad behavior, we imitate good behavior.
Prosocial (positive) models can have huge effects as well.
Ex. Dr. King, Gandhi, Mandela, etc.
Are you going to be a prosocial model for your child? What about your peers?

7. Observational Learning
Bandura and Television
Most children in developed countries spend more time watching TV than in school.
In US, 9 in 10 teens watch TV daily.
2/3 of US homes have 3+ TVs.
Over 1,000,000,000 TVs sets in the world.
TV reaches almost all people!

8. Observational Learning
In the real world, 87% of crimes are nonviolent.
On TV, 13% of crime is nonviolent.
74% of TV crimes went unpunished
58% did not show victim’s pain
Does watching TV violence translate to real world violence?

9. Observational Learning
Results of studies:
Correlational studies do link viewing violence with violent behavior.
Kids: More hours of TV violence = more fights.
Homicide rates doubled with the introduction of TV in US, Canada, and South Africa.

10. Observational Learning
APA says no doubt it that watching violence on TV leads to acceptance of violent behaviors.
Violence stems from imitation (Bandura experiment) of acts seen on TV.
Prolonged exposure to violence desensitizes viewers to real life violence and it becomes more accepted.