Observation in AP Psychology

Definition

Observation is the act of attentively watching someone else's behavior or a particular event without directly participating in it.

Related terms

Social Learning Theory:

Social learning theory suggests that people learn by observing and imitating others' behaviors, attitudes, and emotions.

Modeling:

Modeling refers to imitating specific behaviors observed in others as a way of learning new skills or adopting certain attitudes.

Vicarious Reinforcement: Vicarious reinforcement occurs when individuals observe others being rewarded for certain behaviors, leading them to be more likely to imitate those behaviors themselves.