What Bandura term refers to the extent to which we focus on others' behavior during observational learning?

• A. Retention
• B. Attention
• C. Motivation
• D. Modeling

Answer: (B)

Attention in observational learning is about how closely we focus on the model’s behavior during the observation phase. This focus determines what we actually encode and later recall, making it the essential first step in learning from others. Bandura’s framework describes four processes: attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. You must pay attention to the demonstration to learn it; without attention, nothing new is learned. Retention involves storing what you observed in memory, reproduction is the ability to perform the observed actions, and motivation is the drive to imitate, often shaped by expected rewards or consequences. Factors that boost attention include the model’s perceived similarity or attractiveness, the observer’s goals, and the salience or relevance of the behavior. Modeling refers to the overall process of observing and learning from a demonstration, not specifically the focusing of attention during that initial encounter.