Which psychological concept best explains why children often develop the same habits and mannerisms as their parents?

• A. Observational learning, where children imitate behaviors modeled by their parents
• B. Cognitive dissonance, where children change their attitudes to match their behaviors
• C. Classical conditioning, where children associate neutral stimuli with automatic responses
• D. Operant conditioning, where children learn behaviors through rewards and punishments

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key psychological concepts presented: Observational learning, Cognitive dissonance, Classical conditioning, and Operant conditioning.
2. Step 2: Define Observational learning as the process where individuals learn behaviors by watching and imitating others, especially role models like parents.
3. Step 3: Recognize that Cognitive dissonance involves changing attitudes to reduce discomfort from conflicting beliefs and behaviors, which is different from simply imitating behaviors.
4. Step 4: Recall that Classical conditioning involves associating a neutral stimulus with an automatic response, which explains learned reflexes rather than habit imitation.
5. Step 5: Note that Operant conditioning involves learning through consequences (rewards or punishments), which differs from learning by observation without direct reinforcement.