ABA Exam CoachLessons · B. Concepts and Principles
B.24 · Imitation vs. observational learning
"Learning by watching" sounds simple, but behavior analysts split it into two concepts. Let's work out when watching leads to imitation and when it's observational learning.
Key takeaway
Imitation is behavior evoked by a model's behavior. It happens soon after the model, it looks like the model (formal similarity), and the model is the controlling variable. Observational learning is a change in behavior after watching someone else's behavior and the consequences that person gets. It can be delayed, it can look different from the model, and it can even mean holding back a behavior.
Imitation is behavior evoked by a model's behavior. It happens soon after the model, it looks like the model (formal similarity), and the model is the controlling variable. Observational learning is a change in behavior after watching someone else's behavior and the consequences that person gets. It can be delayed, it can look different from the model, and it can even mean holding back a behavior.
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