in observational learning observers acquire knowledge by observing the model’s behaviour, but perfor mance is influenced by model’s behaviour being rewarded or punished. You must have noticed that children observe adults’ behaviours, at home and during social ceremonies and functions. They enact adults in their plays and games. For instance, young children play games of marriage ceremonies, birthday parties, thief and policeman, house keeping, etc.
Actually they enact in their games what they observe in society, on television, and read in books. Children learn most of the social behaviours by observing and emulating adults. The way to put on clothes, dress one’s hair, and conduct oneself in society are learned through observing others. It has also been shown that children learn and develop various personality characteristics through observational learning.
Aggressiveness, pro- social behaviour, courtesy, politeness, diligence, and indolence are acquired by this method of learning. You can have first-hand experience of observational learning by doing the following exercise. Collect four or five school going children and demonstrate how to make a boat out of a sheet of paper. Do it two or three times and ask the children to observe carefully.
After having shown how to fold the paper in different ways for a number of times, give them sheets of paper and ask them to make a toy boat. Most children will be able to do it somewhat successfully.