Final answer:
Observational learning is a therapy type where individuals watch and imitate models displaying desirable behaviors. It involves steps such as attention, retention, reproduction, and is influenced by vicarious reinforcement. This type of learning has significant implications for both positive and negative behavior development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of therapy that involves watching and imitating models who demonstrate desirable behaviors is known as observational learning. This learning process is integral to social cognitive theory, which was primarily developed by Albert Bandura. The typical steps in the modeling process include attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. A key aspect of this learning is vicarious reinforcement, where an observer sees the model rewarded, thus making the observer more likely to imitate the model's behavior. Observational learning can involve live models, verbal instructional models, or symbolic models such as characters in movies or television.
Examples of observational learning include a child learning to tie their shoes by watching a parent or learning a dance by watching a pop star on TV. Bandura's research has shown this form of learning has both prosocial and antisocial implications, where behaviors observed can lead to positive social behaviors or negative behaviors such as aggression if those are the observed actions. This learning theory calls for careful consideration of the models presented to learners, especially children, due to their tendency to imitate and learn from what they see around them.