Final answer:
Observational learning involves acquiring new behaviors by watching and imitating others, enabled by mirror neurons, and differs from associative learning which is based on direct stimulus-response associations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Observational learning differs from associative learning in that it involves learning by watching and imitating the behaviors of others, rather than forming associations between stimuli and responses as in classical and operant conditioning. Observational learning can be more effective since it allows individuals to acquire new behaviors without direct experience or trial and error.
The neural basis of observational learning is facilitated by mirror neurons, a special class of neurons that fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe another individual performing that same action. These neurons enable individuals to experience and understand the actions of others, thereby enabling the imitation and learning of those actions.
The steps in the modeling process of observational learning, as proposed by Bandura, include attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. The modeling process can result in both prosocial and antisocial effects, depending on the behaviors being observed and imitated.