Albert Bandura Observational Learning

Observational Learning
Abeda Chaudhry
Randolph Community College

Observational Learning Albert Bandura did the study of behavior and observational learning and modeling behavior. The process of learning is stable and is recognized by past experience are that is what most of the psychologists approve, but there is a little difference in their belief about what is really complex connection in learning to make changes take place to what was in the past experiences it both cause each other. It is all based on the theory of personality that says person’s environment causes behavior. Albert Bandura thought it was easy to be observing. He endorsed that environment causes behavior and behavior causes environment. Albert Bandura did many studies;
he was also accountable for the bobo doll studies as well this is which he based his theory on. (Boeree, 1925)
Observational learning is a style of learning that takes place by observing and understanding other people; which is also known as social learning or modeling (Feldman, 2011). Observational learning holds on and copies things that are performed. Observational learning had a lot of influence on the decisions we are going to make and changes the outcome of the result. Observational learning takes place in our life at many different phases, some we don’t even acknowledge sometimes. It is a very important way to learn as a child, and children become like experts as they observe others. Toddlers are the best at observational learning and television has played a big role in social learning (Boeree, 1925). Leaning from one another is a good way to learn how new behaviors are performed.
People who observe behavior can change their behavior after viewing a model. It is natural that we observe another person’s behavior; we copy their behavior as a result. Observational learning consequences can be either positive or negative “called vicarious reinforcement or vicarious punishment– of a model’s behavior” (Cohen, 2011). A lot of the time persons looks play a big role on their behavior as well. Looks are not the only thing that matter, people’s talent, power, intelligence, and popularity have a big impact as well (Cohen, 2011). If a person is well known and is talented can make other people fallow in their
footsteps.
Observational learning requires many different ways of thinking like attention, motivation, and memory. In order for observational learning to take place the observer has to pay attention to learn the behavior of the other person. Memory is important for observational learning also, so that person who is observing the behavior can remember it to duplicate the behavior. They should not only have to remember the behavior they should be able to do that same behavior in order for observational learning to take place. A person has to be motivated to want to do the same action as someone else for observational learning to be completed (Cohen, 2011). Observational learning is something that is simple and difficult at the same time. For example, when learning to play a specific board game, what you want to learn could be an example of observational learning.
There are many way how observational learning can help us in our life.
One of the examples would be how it helped me understand how my parents wanted me to behave while growing up. I just picked up a few ways they wanted me to be and had thing my way. A lot of time when we want thing to happen in a certain way we expect the other lean the way we like thing. It turns in to a win-win situation when everyone is happy by getting what they want. We can come up with many different theories for learning but the most important of all is observational learning, by observing. We continue to learn something new every day from something so simple to very complex. Learning does not change a person’s behavior as much as it changes the personality of the person. Based on Bandura’s theory, not all that a person observes is well
learned.

Reference
Boeree, C. (1925). Albert bandura. Retrieved February 24, 2012 from http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/bandura.html
Cohen, E. (2011, March 05). Observational learning. Retrieved February 24, 2012 from http://www.funderstanding.com/v2/educators/observational-learning/
Feldman, R. (2011). Essentials of understanding psychology. (9 ed., pp. 190-191). New Your, NY: McGraw-Hill Company Inc.