Latest Research
- Albert Bandura. (2016). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://school.eb.com. au.db.plcscotch.wa .edu.au/levels/high/article/474327#
Albert Bandura, (born Dec. 4, 1925, Mundare, Alta., Can.), Canadian-born American psychologist and originator of social cognitive theory who is probably best known for his modeling study on aggression, referred to as the “Bobo doll” experiment, which demonstrated that children can learn behaviours through the observation of adults.
Introduction
"While the behavioral theories of learning suggested that all learning was the result of associations formed by conditioning, reinforcement, and punishment, Bandura's social learning theory proposed that learning can also occur simply by observing the actions of others.
His theory added a social element, arguing that people can learn new information and behaviors by watching other people. Known as observational learning (or modeling), this type of learning can be used to explain a wide variety of behaviors." (Cherry, 2015)
Bandura - Observational Psychology
CrashCourse Psychology. (2014, April 24). The Bobo beatdown. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=128Ts5r9NRE
Overview
- Cherry, K. (2014, December 16). What is observational learning? Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/oindex/fl/What-Is-Observational-Learning.htmOur stem cell toolkit and resource directory includes downloadable resources for school, festival and adult audiences. Check out our videos, map and comic too!
- Walsh, G. (n.d.). Bobo Doll experiment. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/behavior/theories-personality/v/observational-learningAn explanation of the Bobo Doll Experiment, how it demonstrated learning performance distinction, and resulted in Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory.
- McLeod, S. (2016). Observational learning theory. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.htmlChildren observe the people around them behaving in various ways. This is illustrated during the famous Bobo doll experiment (Bandura, 1961). Individuals that are observed are called models. In society, children are surrounded by many influential models, such as parents within the family, characters on children’s TV, friends within their peer group and teachers at school. Theses models provide examples of behavior to observe and imitate, e.g. masculine and feminine, pro and anti-social etc.
- O'Carroll, M. R. (1977). Influence upon imitative aggression of an imitating peer. Journal Of Social Psychology, 101(2), 313.
Laboratory investigations of the observational learning of aggression have typically provided a solitary child with an opportunity to imitate the behavior of a filmed model. In the case of a socially prohibited behavior like aggression, children probably experience uncertainty about the appropriateness of imitating; it has been reported that as many as two-thirds of subjects remain motionless during testing. The behavior of peers who also may have seen the model's behavior may be decisive in producing sufficient disinhibition for imitative aggression to occur.
Dog Training Examples
- Figazza, C. (2014). Do you believe in dog? Retrieved from http://doyoubelieveindog.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/do-as-i-do-copy-cat-social-imitation-in.html#.VrF6UlN96gQ
With this training technique, dogs learn new behaviors by observing and copying their handler. The dog is a copycat. This method relies on social learning, and it was recently introduced in the applied field of dog training. - Aguiar, C. (2012, December 4). Social learning theory and animals: Observational/imitation learning. Retrieved from https://iaabc.org/dog/social-learning-theory-and-animals-observational-imitation-learningn human psychology, Albert Bandura, a self-described social-cognitive psychologist developed Social Learning Theory in the 1970’s (Bandura,1977). Bandura’s Social Learning Theory was rooted in Learning Theory but added the social element. Social Learning Theory added that learning and new behaviors can occur through modeling, or, watching other people. Can, or does, the same happen with animals?
