What type of learning does the Bobo doll experiment illustrate?

The Bobo doll experiment, conducted by Albert Bandura, illustrates observational learning, which is a process where individuals learn by watching the behaviors of others and the consequences that follow. In this famous study, children observed an adult behaving aggressively towards a Bobo doll. When given the opportunity to play with the doll later, many of the children replicated the aggressive behaviors they had seen, demonstrating that they learned not through direct instruction or reinforcement but by observing and imitating the actions of the model (the adult).

Observational learning emphasizes the importance of social context and the role of observation in acquiring new behaviors, making it distinct from other types of learning. For example, operant conditioning involves learning through rewards and punishments for behavior, while classical conditioning involves the association of an involuntary response to a stimulus. Experiential learning, on the other hand, emphasizes learning through experience and reflection. Thus, the Bobo doll experiment specifically underscores the mechanisms of observational learning, highlighting how behavior can be learned without direct experience or reinforcement.