What is the concept of observational learning?

Observational learning refers to the process of acquiring new behaviors or information by watching and imitating others. This concept is primarily associated with the work of psychologist Albert Bandura, who demonstrated this through experiments like the Bobo doll study. In these experiments, children who observed adults behaving aggressively towards a doll later exhibited similar behaviors when given the opportunity to interact with the doll themselves.

This form of learning emphasizes the importance of role models and the social context in which learning occurs. It highlights that individuals do not always need to engage in direct experiences (like trial and error or instruction) to learn; rather, they can learn effectively by simply observing the actions and outcomes of others' behaviors.

The other options describe different learning processes that do not involve the observational component. Direct instructions involve explicit teaching, trial and error entails learning through experiencing various outcomes and adjusting based on that, and instinctual learning refers to innate behaviors that do not require prior observation or experience. Observational learning uniquely encapsulates the idea that much of human behavior is learned socially, rather than solely through personal experience.