Soc 142: Chapter 10 Modeling & Observational Learning.

What are the 2 phases in observational learning of operant behavior?

-Acquisition: involves perceiving and remembering information about a models behavior -Performance: using that information to carry out some relevant behaviors.

What is the difference between coping models and mastery models?

-Coping models are valued for their helpfulness in advancing to the next step -mastery models and often valued for the inspiration and expertise they bring. -mastery models usually do not provide all the information that beginnings need.

How do vicarious emotional responses occur?

-Models give off many social cues that can function as CS's for the observer and many CS elicit conditioned emotional responses in the observers. -The conditioned emotional responses are called vicarious emotional responses, indicating that the observer is taking part in the feelings and emotions of other people. -Situations where the models behavior is paired with US or CS that elicit emotional responses in the observer.

What are the 3 types of modeling effects?

-Observational learning -Inhibitory and disinhibitory effects -Response facilitation effect

How does pavlov conditioning take place in a model and observer?

-The ability of social cues to serve as CS is due to pavlov conditioning. -Cs elicits vicarious emotional responses -When new stimuli is paired with the CS from a model, the new stimuli also becomes an CS through vicarious pavlov conditioning -All of the CS derived from a model can function as secondary punishers and reinforcers, called vicarious reinforcers and punishers.

what is the performance stage?

After information has been acquired by observation. Several factors determine when when , how observers might use that behavioral information and perform similar behavior.

What causes an observer to imitate the behavior of a model?

An observer might imitate the behavior of a model if they like or respect the model, see the model receive reinforcement or see the model gives off signs of pleasure.

Example of vicarious reinforcers and punishers

Because my friend really enjoys the banjo, I might pick it up when she is not playing. If your friend smiles and approves as you explore the strings, her smile provides vicarious reinforcement for your attempting to play.

How does 1a. behavior influence the present reinforcement?

Due to differential reinforcement, people learn that imitating certain kinds of behaviors brings rewards but imitating other kinds of behaviors bring punishment -We learn to be sensitive to the SD's and SDeltas that predict reinforcement and punishments.

Whats the major source of creativity?

Having a lot of exposure to numerous real and symbolic models.

Give an example of Response facilitation?

Hila pulling out a pack of cigarettes sets the occasion for Olenka to also bring out her pack of cigarettes. -Hila states, "cigarettes is soo bad" and that is an SD for Olenka to say "I've tried to quit several times"

6. The easiness of the modeled behavior

If the modeled behavior is way too many steps aheads of an observers skills, the observer may not be able to acquire much useful information from the model -Models often don't know they're being observed and fall into two categories

2. Similarity of the observer and the model

If the observers sees 2 models doing different things, the observer is more likely to learn from the model who is more similar to them. -similarity is very powerful, people with similar interest, jobs, ages, more things in common which makes it easy to locate mutually interesting topics to exchange information.

How does 1b. Models influence the present reinforcement?

Imitating competent and well liked people is usually more reinforcing than imitating incompetent and unpopular people; -We can choose what behaviors we want to imitate.

What are mastery models?

Mastery models demonstrate only the final steps of mastering a small, hence they are depriving observers of the info to traverse the early steps.

What are models?

Models are people who first display a behavior from which observers can learn from. -Observers who see, hear, or read about a models behavior can 1)gain information about the models behavior and 2) may use this information to guide their own behavior. -Mob behavior and mass panic all reflect modeling effects when large number of observers imitate the behavior of those around them.

Give an example of new conditioned emotional responses via vicarious pavlov conditioning?

My best friend is becoming skillful at playing the banjo, and is enthusiastic about her newest music, there is a strong likelihood that you will find yourself beginning to respond to banjo music as a CS for pleasurable feelings. -the stronger the signs of her enthusiasm, the sooner the banjo music will become a CS for you (vicarious pavlov conditioning.

How does empathy for the feelings of others based on vicarious emotional responses?

Naturally, the observer does not feel the exact same way, but there is a similarity in emotional responses if the observer has had enough emotional conditioning in situations similar. -The more similar the past social learning experiences of a model and an observer, the more likely that the observer can empathize with the model.

1. What is Observational learning?

Observational learning involves learning of new behavio based on observing others. -Additional modeling, prompting and rule use may be involved in polishing the observers behavior. -New behavior can be learned much faster and efficiently by observational learning than by shaping alone.

4. There are other reinforcers for watching the models

Observers degree of attentiveness to a model can lie on a continuum of no attention to focusing very closely to the models behavior. -increasing vigilance increases likelihood that the observer will acquire info about the modeled behavior 4a. Observers tend to be more attentive when there are reinforcers for paying attention. 4b. Observational learning: People learn to be villigant or lax by observing others. If there is a snake, seeing other people pay close attention increases the likelihood that observers will play close attention too. 4c. Prompts; villigance and attention can be prompted by turning a persons head or body towards the model who is to be attended. 4d. Rules: rules and verbal commands are quick and easy ways at focusing peoples attention; "Watch how those people do it if you want to learn right"

Why is observing others important?

Observing others is a fast way to learn new behaviors or to learn which of our pre-existing behaviors is most appropriate in a new situation.

2. When does inhibitory and disinhibitory occur?

Occurs when observing a model reduces or increases the chances that an observer will do a behavior at some later time. -Inhibitory effect: If a models behavior is followed by punishment, not only will the model be less likely to repeat that behavior but observer will also be less likely to do the behavior. -Disinhibitory effect: Opposite of inhibitory effect

Present reinforcement in how it influences the imitation of a model?

Performance is influenced by present patterns of reinforcement and punishment -seeing other people receive immediate rewards for a behavior increases probably of imitation.

What is the difference between Real and symbolic models?

Real models: easier to observe and learn from, if we can be close to them. -Symbolic models: we are more impressed by them, specially if they are famous.

3. Response facilitation

Response facilitation occurs when a models behavior serves as an SD for a similar response by the observer. -Response facilitation doesn't affect increase or decrease of behavior in the future. -there is no new learning in response facilitation.

When does reverse imitation occur?

Reverse imitation occurs when an observer does not like the model, see the model get punished or is an environment where conformity or imitation is punished.

Example of vicarious punishment

Seeing other peoples pain, suffering and sadness both elicits vicarious emotions in the observer and provides vicarious punishment that can stop activities that cause pain.

Give an example of vicarious emotional responses

Smiles from parents usually are predictive stimuli that often precede events that are pleasurable for the infants. As the years pass by, child learns that smiles of friendly people usually precede pleasurable experiences.

How does response facilitation come into the social environment?

Social facilitation occurs only because a models behavior has provided SD's that help set the occasion for the observer making a similar response.

What is the value of imitation?

Sometimes imitation is a survival value and we could not live without it -creativity is wonderful but imitation has a survival value. -when we imitate we often add novel features into the replication

What are vicarious reinforcement and punishers?

The Conditioned Emotional Responses we learn from a model via pavlov conditioning can function in our lives as secondary punishers or reinforcers in our lives, even if the model is not present. -they play an important role in the observational learning of an operant behavior.

5. Visibility of modeled behavior:

The more visible a models behavior is for an observers, the easier it is for an observer to learn from watching. -some behavior is more visible than others, facial expressions and body movements are more visible than internal responses.

What are coping models?

They demonstrate the skills than an observers need to cope with the problem of moving up to the next one or 2 steps

What are subtle discriminations?

Those such as facial expressions, words, tone of voice, and body postures that elicit vicarious emotions. -We learn subtle discriminations because the condition of smiles is influenced by numerous cues in the stimulus collage -Smiles of friends usually elicit pleasurable feelings, but the smiles of people who deceive or manipulate us come to elicit different feelings due to pavlov conditioning.

Why do people do inverse imitation?

Usually occurs when observers dislike a model, see negative consequences by a modeled behavior, or receive reinforcement for demonstrating that they are not conformist. -People go out of their way to refrain from doing activities associated with groups they don't like.

The role and effect of an observer who has strong emotional responses to a model?

When an observer has strong emotional responses to a model, the observer may feel an empathetic bond with the model, but the observers feelings may be different than the model.

What is inverse imitation?

When an observer performs a response that is opposite from a models behavior -People do inverse imitation when there is reinforcement for behavior that differs in other ways from the models behavior.

When does vicarious pavlov conditioning occur?

When models provide CS that elicit vicarious emotional responses in the observer, neutral stimuli paired with the CS can also become CS due to higher order pavlov conditioning.

When is an observer more likely to imitate the behavior of a model?

When the models behavior is only 1 or 2 steps ahead of the observers present level of competence, the observer may be able to successfully replicate the new behavior after the 1st exposure to models behavior.

3. Similarity of the behavior

When two people are engages in similar tasks, they tend to be more observant of the other persons behavior than when doing different tasks. -"Follow the leader" and "Blind leading the Blind"

How does Context cues influence the ability to imitate behavior based on past reinforcement?

because a behavior maybe reinforced in one contexts and not the other. -context cues become important SD's and SDeltas that influence imitation.

1. The models behavior is reinforced

-if the observer sees a models behavior has practical value because it produces reinforcing consequences, observer is likely to acquire information about the behavior. 1a. Seeing the consequences of a modeled behavior is enough evidence of the usefulness of the behavior. 1b. Seeing a models emotional responses. -differences in the emotional expressiveness of model can lead to an observer. 1c. Respecting or admiring a model: acquisition of info about a modeled behavior can occur even if the two observers dent see model receive reinforcers. Seeing a respected or admired model provides us with positive feelings for paying attention to and acquiring into about the models actions.

What are the factors influences degree to which we acquire data?

1. Models behavior is reinforced 1a. Seeing the consequences of the models behavior 1b. Seeing a models emotional responses 1c. Respecting or admiring a model. 2. Similarity of the observer and the model 3. Similarity of behavior 4. There are reinforcers for watching the model. 4a. differential reinforcement; observers tend to be more when there are reinforcers for paying attention. 4b. Observational learning; People tend to be vigilant or lax by observing others. 4c. Prompts: Vigilance and attention can beprompted by turning a persons head or body towards the model who is to be attended 4d rules: rules and verbal commands are quick and easy ways of focusing peoples attention; (watch how those people do it if you want to learn right) 5. visibility of a modeled behavior 6. The easiness of the modeled behavior

What are the two types of inverse imitation?

1. Occurs when an observer behavior compliments the model 2.Occurs when the observer is being different from the model? -Gangs hate police, so they do inverse imitation by slouching or acting otherwise that a cop would.

Once an observer has acquired behavioral information from a model, what factors influence where and when the info will be used?

1. Past reinforcement: Past reinforcement for imitating a certain model of by a certain type of behavior increases the probability of performing the modeled behavior in SD context similar to those in which reinforcement occurred in the past. -cues about models, behaviors or context that precede reinforcement for imitation become SD's for performing the modeled behavior. Any cues that precede non reinforcement or punishment for imitation become SDeltas for not performing that action.

What are the two key determinants of behavioral performance?

1. there are SD's present that signal that imitating certain models and behaviors has been rewarded in the past 2. there are SD's that signal that imitating certain models and behaviors will be rewarded now.

Acquisition of modeled behavior is a prerequisite for behavior performance that uses this information, but _____

the acquisition of information does not mean that the information will ever be used.