Final answer:
Individuals are more likely to imitate others when they observe positive outcomes from the model's behavior, when conforming to social norms, and depending on their developmental stage. Self-efficacy also plays a role in determining the likelihood of imitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
We are more likely to imitate others under three specific circumstances:
- Observational learning outcomes: If we observe positive results from the model's behavior, we are more inclined to imitate. For example, Julian watching his father surf successfully may induce him to mimic the behavior.
- Social norms and rules: Experiments, such as breaching experiments, show our reliance on social norms, which can pressure us into imitation to avoid discomfort.
- The developmental stage: As highlighted by Mead, children during the preparatory stage engage in imitation without a capacity for seeing other perspectives. This evolves in the play stage where they adopt roles, suggesting that developmental stages affect imitation tendencies.
Additionally, factors like self-efficacy can determine our likelihood to imitate as we are more likely to mimic behaviors when we are confident in our abilities.