Final answer:
The Bobo doll experiment illustrated the concept of observational learning, where children imitate behaviors observed in others, especially when those behaviors are rewarded or not punished. Bandura's work highlighted the significance of modeled behavior in learning processes and its implications on social behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bobo doll experiment, conducted by Bandura, is an illustration of observational learning, where children learn and mimic behaviors by watching others, particularly adults. This experiment demonstrated that children who witnessed an adult being rewarded or not punished for aggressive behavior towards the doll were more likely to imitate such aggression. This suggests that individuals, especially children, are likely to model behaviors they see rewarded or not punished in their environment.
Bandura's research supports the idea that much of human learning occurs vicariously, as opposed to direct experience. The experiment underscored the impact of observed consequences - reinforcement or punishment - on whether the observed behavior is imitated. This phenomenon of learning has broad implications, suggesting that positive models can promote prosocial behaviors, while exposure to aggression may foster similar behavior in observers.