Observational learning occurs when people learn new behaviors by watching others. Three key studies demonstrated this: 1. Bandura's Bobo doll experiment showed that children who observed an adult acting aggressively towards a Bobo doll were more likely to mimic that aggressive behavior, while children who saw a neutral adult did not. 2. Experiments with animals like hummingbirds found that birds learned to use a new type of feeder faster when able to observe a "tutor" bird using it first. 3. Brain scans show our brains activate in similar ways both when performing an action and when watching someone else perform it, suggesting we mentally rehearse observed behaviors.

1. Observational
Learning

2. Type of learning 1: When an unnatural association
is made between a response and a stimuli.
(Classical conditioning).
Type of learning 2: When we make behavioral
changes based on experiences that resulted in
rewards or punishments. (Operant conditioning).
How else do we learn behavior?

3. Observational Learning
The replication of other’s behavior through
observation and imitation.
(Also called “modeling” and “social learning”).
Albert Bandura believed that
direct reinforcement and
punishment could not account for
all learning that occurs. What
about when children copy the
behavior of their parents when no
reinforcement is given?

4. Watch
Interpret
Mimic

5. The “Bobo Doll Experiment”
From 1961-63, Bandura
conducted experiments with a
“Bobo” clown doll to see the
degree to which children would
mimic the behavior of adults.
A “Bobo Doll” was a toy from
the 1960s that was inflatable, and
weighted so that it would tilt
upwards again after being
knocked down.
36 boys and 36 girls were tested.

6. Video 1

7. The “Bobo Doll Experiment”
Results:
Children who observed adults showing loving behavior
towards the Bobo doll copied that behavior.
Children who observed adults showing aggressive behavior
towards the Bobo doll copied that behavior.
Children who observed adults ignoring the Bobo doll did not
show aggressive behavior towards it.
Bandura concluded that people learn through
observing, imitating, and modeling. People not
only learn by being rewarded or punished
itself, but they can learn from watching
somebody being rewarded or punished, too.

8. Cognitive vs. Behavioral
Bandura was one of many psychologists who believed
that the “behavioral” approach was ignoring the ability
of the mind to think for itself.
Behavioral Approach to
Learning:
• Pavlov,Watson, Skinner
• Learning is the result of interacting
with forces in the environment
• Learning happens when external
forces (like stimuli, direct
reinforcement, and punishment)
impact our lives.
Cognitive Approach to
Learning:
• Bandura
• Learning can happen in the mind
without directly interacting with
the environment
• Learning can happen simply from
our own internal thoughts and
expectations.

9. How Observational Learning Occurs
Attention
To learn anything, you need to be paying attention.
Any kind of distraction can make it difficult for you to
remember what you are learning.
Retention
You must be able to store (or retain) the information
you have learned in your brain. Many factors (like
age and health) can impact memory retention.
Reproduction
You must mimic (or reproduce) the behavior you have
learned from a model.The more you mimic the learned
behavior, the longer you will retain it in your memory.
Motivation
You have to be motivated to mimic a behavior, or else
you will stop practicing it, and eventually forget it.

10. Experiments with Animals
Observational learning has also been tested on
animals like pigeons, fish, and monkeys.
Hummingbirds were trained to use a spacial kind of feeder.
These became the “tutor” birds.
There were two experimental groups: in the
first, a group of hummingbirds was exposed
to the feeder, and took a long time to figure
out how to get the food out. In the second,
a group of birds had one “tutor” bird with
them. These birds learned how to use the
feeder much faster.

11. Role Models
We don’t model the behavior of all people equally.
Celebrities
Parents
Friends, Peers
At a young age,
parents are the
biggest influence. As
we grow older,
famous people
influence us as well.
However, the best
role models are
always the people you
are most similar to:
for example, your
own age and gender.

12. Inside Your Brain…
PET scans reveal
that your brain
often activates
while watching
someone else
perform a
behavior in the
same way it
would activate if
you yourself were
performing that
behavior.

13. Bandura also recognized
that we can learn by
observing the positive
and negative
consequences that
happen to other people.
For example, if a teacher is giving
positive reinforcement by saying
“good job” to all students who are
reading in class, it might cause a
student who is not reading to pick up
a book and begin.
Or, if we see the punishment that
results from taking drugs, we are less
likely to mimic drug-taking behavior.

14. Try It!
Try some observational learning for yourself.
See if you and a classmate can learn to do a “secret
handshake” just by watching a video.
You can watch the video again on the psych website!

15. Video 2