Observational Learning Theories

The learning theory is based on process that lead to change in Behaviour wether it be potential behavioural change or permanent (Worsley 2008, p.140)
The learning theory is used in many health promotion campaigns that promote healthy eating amongst children. The learning theory involves three processes including exposure, when exposed to food certain amount of times children build the tendency to like the food including.(repeated exposure) e.g. If peers are given food and dislike it child will also dislike it and when peers consume food that is liked by them child will also probably like it (Worsley 2008, p.141).
The second being modelling, when children watch their parents eat their food and seeing their parents enjoy that food, children build the tendency to also enjoy it e.g. Adults should be seen to enjoy the food they want their children to eat along with media influences children as they

promote a variety of food /beverages (Worsley 2008, p.141). Lastly reinforcement, the reinforcement that other individuals give them when children are consuming new foods. Certain behaviours can be constant when reward is offered e.g. parent smiles or hugs child as a reward after a certain food is offered or child is praised (Worsley 2008, p.142).
There are many types of behaviour change; the two that are being focused on in this paper are observational learning and operant conditioning.

Theorist Albert Bandura first recognised observational learning. Observational learning occurs when an individual or groups of people are observed an used as guides most commonly know as models to preform and actions that will assist them in the future (Boundless,2015 ).Albert bandura has distinguished 3 types of which include of external reinforcement this comes from environment e.g. praise, money, stickers, avoiding a speeding fine, vicarious reinforcement by observing modelled behaviour being reinforced by other people and self-reinforcement: when we are reinforced by meeting certain standards of performance we set for ourselves e.g. feeling pride, avoiding feeling guilt(Boundless,2015 ).Example Children participate in cooking classes with older children (over 14) who act as role models (observation learning), give out positive reinforcing to increase the child’s self efficacy of healthy eating. The children learn how to cook

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Operant conditioning is a method used in psychology to for learning that is produced through positive and negative reinforcement e.g. through rewards and punishments of certain behaviours(Cherry, 2005).In operant condition there is a relationship between a behaviour and an outcome. Operant Conditioning was developed on by Burrhus Frederic Skinner in 1948 he tested this theory on which he developed on by to track responses made by rats that were place in a skinner box that contained a key that the animal could press to receive a reward (Cherry, 2005). His theory involves two type of reinforces as well as punishments them being positive reinforcement which strengthen behaviour that is being produced Negative reinforcements including the removal of and unfavourable behaviour and lastly positive and negative punishment (Cherry, 2005). for example providing sticker to children will reinforce positive behaviour in order to receive a sticker and removing a sticker when children do no bring fruit to school. This is an example of negative reinforcement.