How the environment reinforces and punishes modeling

People are often reinforced for modeling the behavior of others. Bandura suggested that the environment also reinforces modeling. This is in several possible ways:

1, The observer is reinforced by the model. For example a student who changes dress to fit in with a certain group of students has a strong likelihood of being accepted and thus reinforced by that group.

2. The observer is reinforced by a third person. The observer might be modeling the actions of someone else, for example, an outstanding class leader or student. The teacher notices this and compliments and praises the observer for modeling such behavior thus reinforcing that behavior.
3. The imitated behavior itself leads to reinforcing consequences. Many behaviors that we learn from others produce satisfying or reinforcing results. For example, a student in my multimedia class could observe how the extra work a classmate does is fun. This student in turn would do the same extra work and also receive enjoyment.

4. Consequences of the model’s behavior affect the observers behavior vicariously. This is known as vicarious reinforcement. This is where in the model is reinforced for a response and then the observer shows an increase in that same response. Bandura illustrated this by having students watch a film of a model hitting a inflated clown doll. One group of children saw the model being praised for such action. Without being reinforced, the group of children began to also hit the doll .
Thai Ministry of Health's 10 most dangerous video games

No, these games are not booby trapped nor do they contain anthrax powder. These are the games which the Thai Ministry of Health has put on their watch list. Yes, the MINISTRY OF HEALTH and not the ICT Ministry! They include:

1- GTA-Grand Theft Auto
2- Manhunt
3- Scarface
4- 50 Cent : Bulletproof
5- 300 : The Video Game
6- The Godfather
7- Killer 7
8- Resident Evil 4
9- God of War
10- Hitman : Blood Money


So, the gist of the story is that a "good boy" gets up and kills a taxi driver for his money. He tells police that he wanted the money to go out (probably partying at night). Anyway, it turns out that this kid likes to play GTA and his parents, who are conveniently not always around have concluded that it must be the game's influence that caused their good boy to go astray.
I know, you must be thinking "same poopoo, different country". I couldn't agree more! People tend to find different things to blame for things that go wrong in their lives. This country is no exception. Crimes were blamed on TV, movies, and now games. They target violence in these media as the root of all that is wrong when a kid decides to go postal. Hmm, anyone who walks past a newsstand can tell you what you see on the front page of the Thai Rath is much more graphic than the worst of these games and movies.

Since they're bothering to make a list, don't forget to include Temple Fair favorites like Whack a Mole that promotes animal cruelty, bumper cars for encouraging bad driving habits, shooting the water gun into the clown's mouth which teaches you to use guns, and a plethora of other "violent" carnival games. Sheesh! Like those idiots who spill HOT coffee on themselves and sue the store or smoke so much that they develop a terminal disease and decide to sue the tobacco companies. Be accountable for your own actions, people.

Come on parents. Get your asses up from in front of that TV set and turn of those channel seven soaps! Take some interest in your children and what they do. You turn a blind eye when you need to be involved and then look for something or someone to blame when something goes wrong.