If a child imitates an actor after seeing them rewarded on a show, what process is at work?

If a child imitates an actor after seeing them rewarded on a show, what process is at work?

• A. Direct reinforcement
• B. Vicarious reinforcement
• C. Punishment
• D. Self-reinforcement

Answer: (B)

This is about learning from watching others and their outcomes. When the child sees an actor perform a behavior and receive a reward, that reward serves as reinforcement for the observed behavior. The child is then more likely to imitate it, even though they weren’t rewarded themselves—this is vicarious reinforcement. If the child were rewarded directly for doing the same behavior, that would be direct reinforcement. Punishment would make imitation less likely, and self-reinforcement would involve the child rewarding themselves for their own behavior, which isn’t what's happening here.

This is about learning from watching others and their outcomes. When the child sees an actor perform a behavior and receive a reward, that reward serves as reinforcement for the observed behavior. The child is then more likely to imitate it, even though they weren’t rewarded themselves—this is vicarious reinforcement. If the child were rewarded directly for doing the same behavior, that would be direct reinforcement. Punishment would make imitation less likely, and self-reinforcement would involve the child rewarding themselves for their own behavior, which isn’t what's happening here.