Affective relationship, locus of control, and imitative behavior

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Imitative behavior is influenced by social dynamics.
• The observer's perception of the model plays a role in imitation.
• Locus of control, a personality construct, may affect behavioral responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of affective relationships between models and observers on imitative behavior.
• To examine the correlation between locus of control and imitative responses.
• To understand the role of self-reinforcement in imitative behavior.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-eight boys participated in the study.
• Participants were exposed to their most and least liked peers during an imitative task.
• Locus of control was assessed using the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children.

Main Results:

• Children exhibited more imitative responses toward their most liked peer compared to their least liked peer.
• A positive correlation was observed between the number of imitative responses and an internal locus of control.
• Findings suggest affective bonds influence imitation.

Conclusions:

• The affective relationship between a model and observer significantly impacts imitative behavior.
• Internal locus of control is associated with increased imitative responses.
• Results support the theory that imitative behavior is largely controlled by self-reinforcement mechanisms.