A child angrily hits a playmate in the same way that he has been punished at home. It is an example of :

Question

Accepted Answer

The child's behavior of hitting a playmate in the same way he's been punished at home is an example of **Observational learning**.

Here's why:

*   **Observational learning (Option 3):** This type of learning occurs when an individual learns by watching the behavior of others (in this case, the parents or caregivers at home) and then imitating that behavior. The child is observing the aggressive behavior (punishment) at home and then replicating it in a different setting with a playmate. This aligns perfectly with the core principle of observational learning, which involves modeling and imitation. The child doesn't need to be directly rewarded or punished for the hitting behavior to learn it; they simply observed it and are now enacting it.

Here's why the other options are incorrect:

*   **Operant conditioning (Option 1):** Operant conditioning involves learning through consequences (rewards and punishments). While the child might eventually experience consequences for hitting the playmate, the *initial* act of hitting is not driven by a previous reward or punishment related to that specific behavior. The child is hitting because they observed it, not because they expect a reward or fear a punishment based on past experience with hitting.

*   **Classical conditioning (Option 2):** Classical conditioning involves associating a neutral stimulus with a naturally occurring stimulus to elicit a conditioned response. This scenario doesn't involve any such association. There's no neutral stimulus being paired with an unconditioned stimulus to create a learned response.

*   **Insightful learning (Option 4):** Insightful learning involves a sudden understanding or realization of how to solve a problem. The child's behavior is not a result of a sudden flash of insight; it's a direct imitation of observed behavior. There's no problem-solving or cognitive restructuring involved.