We've all been warned to watch what we say around young children because according to their parents, "They repeat everything!" Children copy actions, as well as words, all in an effort to "be like you," the adult they admire.
In many cases children's copycat behavior, otherwise known as observational learning, is beneficial. According to the Lilienfeld text, the more official definition of observational learning is: learning by watching others. In animals observation learning occurs because of mirror neurons. Our Lilienfeld text tells us that mirror neurons are cells in the prefrontal cortex that are activated by certain movements when animals do or see an action. Observational learning is considered to be latent learning. Observational learning can have both positive and negative influences. This type of learning can save us from making terrible mistakes, but, at the same time can cause terrible habits. One example of this is observational learning of aggression. A negative effect of observational learning is shown by Albert Bandura's research, discussed in the text. In Bandura's research preschool children were shown an adult being violent to a Bobo doll or playing nicely while ignoring the Bobo doll. Next the children were given a Bobo doll of their own to play with. Researchers found that the children shown an adult being violent were more likely to copy that behavior and be violent to the Bobo doll. The Bobo doll research, along with observational learning itself prompt the question: How have you behaved today? Is your observable behavior worth learning?
decke221: October 2011 Archives
Been there, done that, seen that? Déjà Vu translates from French to mean, "already seen." Have you ever had the experience of walking into a room and feeling as though you had been there before, even though you never really had? Or maybe you saw and image that you were absolutely positive you had already seen, but you hadn't. According to our text Psychology: From Inquiry to Understanding, Déjà Vu is most likely to "people who remember their dreams, travel frequently, are young, and have liberal political and religious beliefs, a college education, and a high income." Many 'know' that Déjà Vu is real and does happen, because it has happened to them. But many more know the truth, Déjà Vu is a trick of the mind, not a real happening. This mind trick happens when we remember part of something from the past, perhaps from our childhood, or when we consciously see an image we have unconsciously seen before. Although the claim of Déjà Vu may seem significant, it cannot be falsified. According to the Scientific Thinking Principles a claim must be falsifiable to be significant. While Déjà Vu may not be scientifically significant, it is Hollywood significant. Multiple films are based off the Déjà Vu mind trick. One movie in particular titled Déjà Vu, tells the story of a man (Denzel Washington) saving the damsel in distress, while experiencing Déjà Vu.
Déjà Vu is real in Hollywood, but insignificant in science and real life. Remember this the next time Déjà Vu plays a mind tick on you!
