What is the process of learning new behaviors by watching others called?

Observational learning is a process in which individuals acquire new behaviors or information by watching others perform those behaviors. This concept is closely associated with the work of psychologist Albert Bandura, who demonstrated that people can learn not only through direct experience but also by observing the actions of others and the consequences that follow.

In this type of learning, individuals do not necessarily have to experience the behavior themselves to learn from it; they can simply observe and then later replicate the behavior if they find it beneficial or rewarding. This process includes elements such as attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation, which facilitate the learning of new behaviors through observation.

While imitative learning involves mimicking the actions of others, it is a more specific subset of observational learning. Cognitive learning refers to understanding and applying knowledge through complex cognitive processes, rather than merely watching someone else. Experiential learning emphasizes learning through direct experience, which contrasts with the passive observation inherent in observational learning. Therefore, the definition and mechanisms involved in observational learning highlight its role as the correct process for learning new behaviors through observation.