Modeling Theory

MODELING THEORY

Here's an interesting study that was done many years ago to make a point. I'll set it up, then you guess what happened.

A teacher made a special video to show her class of third graders. The video was shot in a school playroom with lots of toys that 5 year olds really like. One of the toys was an inflated Bobo doll that stood about as tall as a first grader. Near Mr. Bobo was a large plastic baseball bat.

What the teacher did is this. She filmed one little boy in the playroom having fun with Mr. Bobo. She specifically instructed the little boy to pick up the large plastic bat and to knock the beejeebers out of Mr. Bobo. And, being a good little boy, the kid whacked Mr. Bobo like it was two out in the bottom of the ninth with the home team trailing by one. Whack, wham, and bash.

Now, here's the interesting part of the study. The teacher took this video and brought it to another first grade class one day. Just before the children went to their playroom for a little recreation, the teacher played the video for them. It showed many kids playing the playroom, but it also featured our home run hitter knocking Mr. Bobo into orbit.

Okay, class, the $64,000 question. What happened when this audience of first grade kids went to the playroom after watching the video?

Of course. They went hunting for Mr. Bobo and the Louisville slugger. And when they found them, well, it wasn't a pretty sight.

This study seems so obvious that one wonders why it was ever done. Of course those kids observed the videotape, then when they got the chance, they applied what they had seen. Every parent knows all about monkey see, monkey do. So what's the big deal with Modeling Theory?

Three points. First, it is surprising that people can be influenced so easily. Just by watching what other people do, we can acquire new ideas and behaviors. Second, modeling seems to be a dominant way that people get new behaviors. Whenever we are in a new situation, we almost always look around to see what others are doing. Third, the whole process requires very little thinking on the part of the observer. Indeed, modeling is faster is you simply copy the model rather than try to figure out everything that is going on.

PROCESS OF THE THEORY

Modeling Theory operates in three simple steps. Here they are in overview.

You observe a model.
You imitate the model's actions.
You get a consequence.

The marvel of this theory is that people are influenced simply as a result of observing other people (monkey see, monkey do). From the observation of others, we learn what to do, what not to do, when to do it, and what to expect when we do it. Very simple, very direct, and very easy.

After we observe the model, we then imitate. That is, when we get in a similar situation that we had observed earlier, we now produce the same behaviors we saw the model produce. We observe someone put a plastic card in a machine, press some buttons, then get money. So, we walk over to the machine, look for a place to put our card, look for some directions about those buttons, press a few, and viola, money.

Now, our imitation should lead to the desired consequence. We saw the model get the money, right? If our imitation produces money for us, too, we got the desired consequence and now we have truly been influenced. (I watch you do it, and when I do it, I get what I want.) If our imitation fails, then we will drop the model.

INSTRUCTIONAL APPLICATIONS

Among the many uses of modeling, I want you to consider three very practical implications.

1. You have to know what is being modeled.

Do you remember Mrs. Reinforcer and her student, Bad Bill? Bad Bill broke a Rule and Mrs. Reinforcer used punishment to influence Bill's behavior. (Except Bad Bill really wanted the punishment to escape the classroom and so he kept doing the bad thing, which confused Mrs. Reinforcer.) Something else was also going on in Mrs. Reinforcer's classroom. Every other kid was watching the event and because of the principles of modeling, every kid was being influenced. Each one of them learned, simply through observation, several important lessons.

Many students learned that bad kids do get punished. That's good. When you enforce a Rule as a teacher, everybody in the room, not just the target, is influenced because of modeling. But bad things are learned, too. Some of the kids learned that if they act like Bad Bill they can escape Mrs. Reinforcer's room. Others learned (by seeing what happened before Bill got thrown out) all the things they can do and still not get in trouble. Finally, some learned how to pull Mrs. Reinforcer's chain.

The point of this example is direct. When things happen, people may be modeling.

2. Use modeling to change behavior.

Modeling Theory is designed primarily to explain behavioral influence. It is less useful in creating or understanding changes in thinking or feeling. Therefore, whenever you want to influence behaviors, consider modeling. For other types of changes, use other persuasion tools.

3. Show modeling. (Don't tell.)

As noted at point 2, Modeling Theory works well at influencing behavior. The best way to implement modeling is to do it rather than to say it. Here's a really good example.

REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READINGS

Bandura, A. (1962). Social learning through imitation. In M. Jones (Ed.), Nebraska symposium on motivation (pp. 211-269). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.