Albert Bandura

 

Bandura's four step modeling process

1. Attention  

2. Retention

3. Reproduction 

4. Motivation 

In order to learn, you need to be paying attention. Anything that detracts your attention is going to have a negative effect on observational learning. If the model is interesting or there is a novel aspect to the situation, you are far more likely to dedicate your full attention to learning. This includes symbolic coding, mental images, cognitive organization, symbolic rehearsal, motor rehearsal. Once you have paid attention to the model and retained the information, it is time to actually perform the behavior you observed. Further practice of the learned behavior leads to improvement and skill advancement. Finally, in order for observational learning to be successful, you have to be motivated to imitate the behavior that has been modeled. Reinforcement and punishment play an important role in motivation. While experiencing these motivators can be highly effective, so can observing other experiences with some type of reinforcement or punishment.