Five-year old Hannah learns how to operate the TV remote by watching her mother use it. This is an example of
(A) observational learning.
B) operant conditioning.
(C) classical conditioning.
D) latent learning.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is (A) observational learning.
Observational learning occurs when an individual learns by observing the behavior of others. In this case, Hannah is learning to operate the TV remote by watching her mother use it. This is a direct example of learning through observation, where Hannah is not being directly taught or reinforced but instead is imitating her mother’s actions.
Observational learning is a type of social learning where individuals acquire new behaviors or information by watching others perform the behavior. This type of learning can occur without the learner being reinforced or punished for the behavior. It plays a significant role in the development of many skills, particularly in early childhood. For example, children often learn language, social cues, and motor skills by observing their parents or caregivers.
This process is often associated with Albert Bandura, a psychologist who conducted influential research on observational learning. His famous Bobo doll experiment demonstrated that children who observed an adult behaving aggressively toward a doll were more likely to imitate that behavior themselves.
Operant conditioning (Option B), on the other hand, involves learning through rewards and punishments, where behavior is influenced by the consequences that follow it. In this scenario, Hannah is not being directly reinforced for her actions, so operant conditioning is not at play.
Classical conditioning (Option C) refers to learning through association, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, like Pavlov’s dogs salivating at the sound of a bell.
Latent learning (Option D) involves learning that occurs but is not immediately demonstrated until there is a reason to do so. An example would be a person who learns a route to work but doesn’t use it until necessary.
Hence, observational learning is the best explanation in this case.