What learning principle is showcased in the Bobo doll experiment?

The Bobo doll experiment, conducted by Albert Bandura, is a pivotal study in psychology that highlights the concept of observational learning. This principle indicates that individuals can learn new behaviors simply by observing others. In the experiment, children watched a video of an adult interacting with a Bobo doll in an aggressive manner. Later, when given the opportunity to play with the doll, those children who observed the aggressive behavior were more likely to mimic it, demonstrating that they had learned how to behave through observation rather than direct experience.

Observational learning emphasizes the role of modeling behavior, where individuals take cues from the actions of others, especially when those actions are demonstrated by individuals perceived as role models. This learning process does not require direct reinforcement or punishment, which distinguishes it from classical conditioning, where associations are made between stimuli, or trial and error learning, which involves experimenting until success is achieved. Insight learning, on the other hand, involves a cognitive understanding of a problem rather than simply imitating observed behavior. Thus, the Bobo doll experiment distinctly illustrates the principles of observational learning.