"A person will imitate another when he expects to be rewarded for doing so." This statement is most consistent with
A)the theory that imitation is an innate tendency
B)the theory that imitation is simple operant conditioning
C)the concept of stimulus enhancement
D)Bandura's theory of imitation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This statement is most consistent with Bandura's theory of imitation, which asserts that people are more likely to imitate others if they believe that doing so will result in reinforcement or reward. Bandura's theory also emphasizes the importance of modeling, in which an observer watches and learns from another person's behavior, as well as the role of self-efficacy, or an individual's belief in his or her own ability to perform a particular behavior. This theory differs from theories of simple operant conditioning, which focus solely on reinforcing or punishing specific behaviors, and from theories of innate tendencies, which suggest that imitation is an automatic and unconscious response to external stimuli. The concept of stimulus enhancement, while related, is a more specific process in which an observer's attention is drawn to a particular object or location as a result of another individual's behavior or cues, and does not necessarily involve the learning of new behaviors.

"A Person Will Imitate Another When He Expects to Be