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THE SOCIAL CONTROL OF GENERALIZED IMITATION 1
Author(s) -
Steinman Warren M.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.1970.3-159
Subject(s) - imitation , reinforcement , psychology , generalization , control (management) , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology , social psychology , artificial intelligence , computer science , mathematics , mathematical analysis
Instructions, discrimination procedures, and sources of reinforcement were manipulated in order to determine the bases for the maintained “non‐reinforced” imitations observed in generalized imitation research. Six girls received imitation training from two exprimenters, One experimenter modelled only reinforced responses; the other modelled only non‐reinforced responses. The children imitated all responses when no reinforced alternative was available, even though results of choice procedures and special instructions clearly demonstrated that they discriminated reinforced from non‐reinforced responses. Instructions not to perform non‐reinforced imitations immediately eliminated these behaviors. It is suggested that social setting events may be largely responsible for generalized imitation.