Modeling is the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior. It is a central mechanism of social learning.

Albert Bandura’s experiments demonstrated that children readily imitate aggressive actions they have seen performed by adults, especially when the model is rewarded or goes unpunished. Modeling is not limited to aggression; it supports the acquisition of language, social skills, work habits, and moral standards. Attention to the model, retention of what was observed, ability to reproduce the behavior, and motivation to do so all influence whether modeling occurs.

Live models, symbolic models in media, and verbal instructions can all serve as sources. People are more likely to imitate models who are similar, high-status, or successful. Modeling is used deliberately in therapy—therapists demonstrate coping skills—and in education, where teachers and peers provide examples of desired performance.

Much of what people know how to do was first watched and then tried.