Observational Learning: Definition, Phases And Uses
Authors as relevant and famous as Burrhus F. Skinner, Julian B. Rotter and, above all, Albert Bandura contributed to the description of the process by which observational learning occurs, by which we learn by seeing how other people behave.
In this article we will describe What is observational learning based on the work of Bandura, whose contributions in this regard are better known as “social learning theory.” We will also talk about the four stages that make up this process: attention, retention, reproduction and motivation.
The concept “observational learning” is a bit ambiguous. Many authors identify it with social learning described by Albert Bandura; This term is probably the most popular way of referring to this process in scientific literature.
In turn, both the definitions of social and observational learning are confused with other similar ones, in particular vicarious learning, imitation and modeling. However, it is possible to find differential nuances between the original scope of application of each of the terms, although with the passage of time the different conceptions have become homogenized.
In this sense we can include within observational learning any type of learning that occurs as a result of contemplating the behaviors of other living beings (since it is not a specific term for humans), as well as the consequences of these, that is, their contingency with the appearance of reinforcements and punishments.
The main particularity of observational learning is that occurs without the need for the person learning to obtain reinforcement: in this case information is obtained about the possible effects that a certain behavior will have. However, reinforcement is necessary for the behavior to be carried out, as we will see a little later.
As for the rest of the terms we have mentioned, each of them highlights a specific feature of a broad and shared phenomenon. Thus, when we talk about “modeling” we are emphasizing the importance of the person who acts as a behavioral model, while “social learning” refers to its inclusion in the framework of socialization.
Bandura’s social learning theory
In the 1960s, the Canadian psychologist Albert Bandura carried out different studies to analyze learning processes that could not be explained by traditional behavioral models (classical and operant conditioning), but required the use of social variables. From them he formulated his theory of social learning.
Previously, authors such as BF Skinner or JB Rotter had proposed models that attempted to explain observational learning, or other closely related concepts, through basic mechanisms such as reinforcement. However, the “cognitive revolution” contributed to the inclusion of unobservable variables in scientific psychology.
According to Bandura, one of the greatest weaknesses of the existing approaches at the time was the fact that they did not include social variables in the hypotheses about the acquisition of behaviors. His theory is based on the idea that Learning is a fundamentally cognitive process which is inseparable from the social framework in which it develops.
In this way, Bandura proposed the concept of reciprocal determinism, according to which when a living being carries out learning it is not being a simple recipient of the events that happen in its environment, but rather there is a mutual influence between context, behaviors and cognitive variables such as expectations or motivation.
One of the most relevant contributions of Bandura’s work was that he showed that learning can occur without the need for the learner to obtain reinforcement. However, logically, observing that the model obtains rewards or punishments as a consequence of its behavior modulates the learning that takes place.
The 4 stages of this process
Albert Bandura conceptualized observational (or social) learning as a process composed of four stages that take place one after another. Thus, this type of learning includes everything from attention to the events that happen in our environment to the motivation that leads us to execute the behavior after having learned it by observation.
1. Attention
Attention is the cognitive function that allows us perceive and understand the events that occur around us. If the person’s cognitive abilities are adequate and sufficient attentional resources are dedicated to observation, learning will be easier. Certain characteristics of the model, such as its prestige, significantly influence this process.
2. Retention
This stage of observational learning refers to the memorization of observed behavior. According to Bandura, retention can be based on both verbal and visual material, with verbal cognitive models generally being more suitable for complex learning.
3. Playback
Following Bandura’s definition, we understand “reproduction” as the execution of the behavior that had been memorized; We can conceptualize this process as creating an action plan. The feedback we receive from other people significantly modulates the specific characteristics of behavioral reproduction.
4. Motivation
Even though we have perfectly learned a behavior, it is very unlikely that we will perform it if we do not have incentives to do so. Thus, the execution of the behavior It depends mainly on the expectation of reinforcement; It is in this step that, according to Bandura’s theory, the presence of a reinforcer is essential, and not in previous stages.
