Observational Learning

Observational learning is a way in which we learn throughout the course of our entire lives. As children we observe our parents behaviors as well as teachers and older people that may serve as role models to us. By viewing these people we begin to develop our own habits for behaviors which are usually strongly correlated with the behaviors which we have been observing. In the beginning stages of our lives although we were young and not as developed psychologically as we are now we were still able to imitate certain behaviors we observed. As we grow older we still use observational learning. For example if you are an athlete and have a certain player you always looked up to, you may try and mimic some of his behaviors. You may even go as far as to read about ways in which they train or how they prepare themselves before a game. Once the connection has been made between they ways in which they prepare and the skill level of the athlete you will begin to behave in certain ways. You see the athlete succeeding and desire the same results, and believe you can achieve them by mimicking the behaviors you have been observing.