Introduction to Learning
Observational learning & language
The criticisms of behaviourism
Watson (1924): ‘All human behaviour, from mental disorder to
scientific skill, is determined by learning’.
Main objection: the complexity of human behaviour is difficult to
explain through operant conditioning alone.
Learning theory cannot easily explain imitation and observational
learning.
Observational (social) learning
Many different forms of social learning
People can improve performance on many tasks, including sports,
simply by watching others perform
DIY – can’t rewire a plug – watch some chap on YouTube do it and
follow his actions.
Learning at the subliminal level – advertising.
Simple: contagious behaviour
Instinctive or reflexive
Triggered automatically by the same behaviour in others
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk9-gkT2bI8
Simple: stimulus enhancement
Stimulus enhancement allows behavioural triggers to be noticed
o Monkey observes termites running when poked with a stick
and monkey picks up a stick… imitation, or is the monkey
driven just by the goal?
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyy2ko191s0
Observational learning in animals?
Can animals learn by observation?
o Rats will watch what other rats eat to determine food safety
(Galef, 1996)
o True imitation is defined as duplicating a novel behaviour to
achieve a specific goal
Animals often do not duplicate a model’s behaviour
exactly
Stimulus enhancement may explain some apparent
imitation by animals
Observational learning
Also known as social learning
Observational learning & language
The criticisms of behaviourism
Watson (1924): ‘All human behaviour, from mental disorder to
scientific skill, is determined by learning’.
Main objection: the complexity of human behaviour is difficult to
explain through operant conditioning alone.
Learning theory cannot easily explain imitation and observational
learning.
Observational (social) learning
Many different forms of social learning
People can improve performance on many tasks, including sports,
simply by watching others perform
DIY – can’t rewire a plug – watch some chap on YouTube do it and
follow his actions.
Learning at the subliminal level – advertising.
Simple: contagious behaviour
Instinctive or reflexive
Triggered automatically by the same behaviour in others
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk9-gkT2bI8
Simple: stimulus enhancement
Stimulus enhancement allows behavioural triggers to be noticed
o Monkey observes termites running when poked with a stick
and monkey picks up a stick… imitation, or is the monkey
driven just by the goal?
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyy2ko191s0
Observational learning in animals?
Can animals learn by observation?
o Rats will watch what other rats eat to determine food safety
(Galef, 1996)
o True imitation is defined as duplicating a novel behaviour to
achieve a specific goal
Animals often do not duplicate a model’s behaviour
exactly
Stimulus enhancement may explain some apparent
imitation by animals
Observational learning
Also known as social learning
