Generalization and persistence of effects of exposure to self-reinforcement models

2 experiments examined the persistence and generalization of effects of exposure to modeled self-reinforcement standards. Children observed a peer model exhibiting either a high or low standard for self-reward at a novel game or saw no model. Subjects then played the game, either with or without specific instructions to follow the model's example. 2 weeks later, in a new situation, subjects played either the same game or a different game. In these subsequent sessions, substantial persistence of the effects of exposure to the model and generalization of these effects to a new game were demonstrated. Initial differences between the 2 modeling conditions and between instructed and noninstructed subjects, however, generally did not persist in this later test.