Modeling

Description of the Strategy

People learn by watching other people. Throughout history, writers, educators, and social leaders have [Page 376]extolled the importance of providing a good example for others and, conversely, for basing one's own behavior on the conduct of particularly virtuous or accomplished individuals. Modeling procedures take advantage of observational, or vicarious, learning to teach people more adaptive responses. Modeling involves having an observer watch another person, the model, engage in specific behaviors that demonstrate effective ways to respond to problem situations. The modeled segments are structured and are systematically and repeatedly presented until the observer displays the desired behavioral outcome.

Observing the behavior of others, which we will call modeling, produces three general effects. First, modeling can help people acquire new ...