Final answer:
The term 'vicarious reinforcement' was coined by psychologist Albert Bandura as a component of his social learning theory, differentiating from B. F. Skinner's direct reinforcement in behaviorism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term vicarious reinforcement was coined by psychologist Albert Bandura. It's a process in social learning theory where an observer sees a model being rewarded for certain behaviors, which in turn makes the observer more likely to imitate the model's behavior. This concept is part of Bandura's wider contribution to psychology, particularly his focus on observational learning and social learning theory, which includes the understanding that not all learning is due to direct reinforcement but can also happen by observing others.
B. F. Skinner, another influential psychologist, was known for developing the theory of operant conditioning that centered on how behaviors modified through the consequences of reinforcement and punishment. This differs from vicarious reinforcement as it pertains directly to the individual's actions, rather than learning through the observation of others. Skinner's work, particularly the operant conditioning chamber, remains a significant basis for research into behavioral modification.
Overall, while Skinner's principles of reinforcement are related to vicarious reinforcement, it was Bandura who emphasized the role of observational learning in how we adopt and discard behaviors, which is a key component in the development of our individual personalities.