Imitative behavior in kindergarten children was either reinforced or not reinforced prior to seeing a male aggressive model. The children were tested for imitation and retention of the behaviors. Study provides support for both contiguity'' and generalized imitation'' theories of social modeling. (ST)

Traditional learning theories stress that people are either conditioned through reward and punishment or by close association with neutral or evocative stimuli. These direct experience theories do not account for people's learning complex behavior through observation. Attentional, retention, motoric reproduction, reinforcement, and motivational…

The ways in which values are learned in youth sport activities are discussed and the development of positive attitudes and behaviors are examined. Values are learned through modeling or imitating behavior. Three types of reinforcement can furnish incentives to achieve desired behaviors. (JN)

The author discusses misconceptions about behavior modeling as a management skills training method and elaborates on three major steps in the modeling process: (1) effective demonstration of master performance; (2) guided student practice; and (3) feedback on the quality of student effort. (SK)

This study investigates the possibility that the reinforcement strength of stimuli can be enhanced by observational learning as well as by pairing with unconditioned reinforcers. The reinforcement strengths of two candies were determined for 40 preschool children as measured by rate of response on a button pressing apparatus. The children then…

A research study evaluated the effect of televised (vicarious) models on children's occupational perceptions relevant to career decision making. It was hypothesized that (1) viewing nontraditional occupational sex role models would decrease occupational sex-typing, (2) decrease in occupational sex-typing would be enhanced by social approval…