Even though Brenda was never reinforced directly for doing so, she increased the frequency of her swearing after she saw her friend Elizabeth get a lot of attention after she swore. This is most likely an example of
A)observational learning.
B)operant conditioning.
C)punishment.
D)self-efficacy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario describes observational learning, as Brenda's behavior is influenced by observing and imitating the behavior of her friend Elizabeth, who received attention for swear words. Operant conditioning involves the reinforcement or punishment of behavior, but in this case, Brenda did not receive direct reinforcement for swearing. Punishment involves the application of an aversive stimulus to decrease behavior, which is not occurring in this scenario. Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to perform a task, which is not directly relevant in this scenario.

Even Though Brenda Was Never Reinforced Directly for Doing So