28 Mimetismo imitación y condicionamiento observacional

Introduction to Learning and Conditioning

Overview of Mimicry, Imitation, and Observational Conditioning

• The video introduces basic concepts of learning and conditioning, focusing on mimicry, imitation, and observational conditioning as types of learning derived from experiences of others.

Definitions and Key Concepts

• A distinction is made between binarism, avoidance, invitation, and contagious behavior; the latter being a genetically programmed response rather than learned behavior.

• Contagious behavior is exemplified by dogs barking in one area leading to similar responses in other areas without any direct learning involved.

Understanding Imitation vs. Mimicry

Differences Between Types of Learning

• Mimicry involves copying a response without tangible rewards, while imitation entails copying a response that yields immediate benefits for the imitator.

Factors Influencing Imitation

• Human imitation has been studied extensively; it depends on characteristics of the model (the person being imitated), the observer (the person imitating), and situational factors.

Characteristics Favoring Imitation

Model Characteristics

• Certain traits enhance the likelihood of imitation:

• Models with an affectionate or rewarding demeanor increase imitation chances.

• Models possessing power or social dominance are more likely to be imitated.

• Observers tend to imitate those who resemble them socially or demographically due to easier identification.

Observer Characteristics

• Younger observers (e.g., children) show higher rates of imitation compared to older ones.

• Dominance among peers influences who imitates whom; dominant children tend to imitate more but also limit their behaviors based on social hierarchies.

Self-Esteem and Social Context in Imitation

Psychological Factors

• Self-confidence plays a crucial role; individuals lacking confidence are more prone to imitate others' behaviors.

• Low self-esteem correlates with increased dependence on others for behavioral guidance during adolescence when group identification peaks.

Situational Factors Affecting Imitation

• Tasks that are too easy or too difficult reduce the likelihood of imitation; optimal conditions occur with tasks of intermediate difficulty where modeling is most effective.

Media Influence on Behavior

Presentation Effects on Imitation

• Research indicates that how models are presented (real-life vs animated) does not significantly alter imitation rates; aggressive behaviors are mimicked regardless of presentation style except for recorded voices which yield lower results.

Implications for Media Consumption

• The findings highlight the significant impact media can have on behavior through vicarious learning—learning from observing others' actions in various formats like films or television shows. This raises questions about role models portrayed in media contexts.

Theories Explaining Observational Learning

Discarded Theories

• The video discusses theories related to observational learning but emphasizes discarding simplistic explanations such as intensification styles based solely on experimental setups involving animals like rats observing each other's learned behaviors within controlled environments.

Understanding Observational Learning in Rats

Mechanisms of Learning through Observation

• The observer rat learns the location of the lever more easily after watching another rat press it, demonstrating that observation can enhance learning efficiency.

• The presence of a manipulating rat intensifies the observer's perception of the lever, leading to quicker action towards it due to heightened stimulus salience.

• This process may involve observational conditioning, where the reward (food) becomes associated with the stimulus (lever), rather than directly with the model's behavior.

• The observer rat is likely to learn faster about food rewards linked to lever pressing due to its prior experience observing another rat interact with that stimulus.

• Evolutionarily, complex problems are often solved using simple mechanisms; thus, understanding vicarious learning through straightforward processes is essential.

Instinctual Imitation and Its Limitations

• There is speculation that imitation could be an instinctive behavior, supported by findings related to mirror neurons in humans; however, this does not fully explain all imitative behaviors.

• An example involving chimpanzees illustrates that not all learned behaviors (like removing a collar) can be explained solely by instinctual imitation despite extensive training.

Behavioral Conditioning and Imitation

• Imitation might also be viewed as a variation of operant conditioning; children often imitate adults for attention and reinforcement from their parents during social interactions.

• When children imitate adult behaviors, they often become the center of attention at family gatherings, reinforcing this behavior through positive feedback from adults.

Implications for Animal Training

• The act of imitation may have been genetically reinforced over time so that individuals learn to associate imitating with positive outcomes or consequences.

• Research indicates that operant conditioning applied to imitation can significantly enhance learning in animals used in therapeutic settings or educational interventions.

Bandura’s Social Learning Theory

• Albert Bandura's social learning theory emphasizes how consequences affect modeling behavior; his experiments involved children observing aggressive actions toward a doll and replicating them later.

• Bandura utilized a specific type of doll in his studies which would return upright when knocked down, allowing researchers to observe children's reactions after witnessing aggressive models.

Aggressive Behavior in Children and Imitation

Observations on Aggressive Conduct

• The study observed aggressive behavior in children when interacting with a doll, noting that boys exhibited this behavior more than girls. When the model displayed aggression and received praise from an accomplice researcher, both boys and girls imitated the aggressive actions.

• A slight reduction in imitation of aggressive behavior was noted when the model faced reprimand or punishment instead of receiving rewards for their aggression. This suggests that consequences can influence children's behavior.

• It was highlighted that physical aggression develops more readily in boys compared to girls, potentially linked to societal education practices. However, further exploration into these educational influences was deemed outside the current discussion.

• The findings indicate that children generally show a higher tendency to imitate physical aggression than girls do. Notably, when models receive negative consequences for their aggressive conduct, imitation decreases compared to scenarios where no consequences or rewards are given.

Bandura's Social Learning Theory Insights

• According to Bandura's social learning theory, imitation involves acquiring cognitive representations mediated by various cognitive processes. Imitation is complex and requires attention to what is being modeled rather than distractions.

• Key processes involved in imitation include:

• Attention: Focusing on the model's actions.

• Retention: Remembering what has been observed.

• Motor Reproduction: Having the physical ability to replicate the action.

• Motivation: Incentives play a crucial role in whether individuals choose to imitate behaviors.

Conclusion and Reflection

• The discussion concludes with an invitation for further exploration into observational learning concepts such as mimicry and conditioning. The aim is not just knowledge acquisition but also sparking curiosity about these psychological phenomena.