The social learning theory states that if a child identifies with a role model then they are more likely to imitate

Question: The social learning theory states that if a child identifies with a role model then they are more likely to imitate them, but what leads to identification and why do we all identify with different characteristics?
- Keywords:
  child,
  development
Asked by anon-282368 on 9 Mar 2021.
- anon answered on 9 Mar 2021:
  
  Hi JoeL,
  
  I think who we identify with as role models is based quite a lot in who we are. So as a female, I am more likely to identify with females as role models. Same goes with ethnicity and even age. This is quite evolutionary based (to an extent) as those closest to us genetically are more likely to look and act like we do.
  I hope this can be applied to education, things like female role models in STEM (like I am doing here!). Though I think it can also be counterproductive in things like violent TV and video games for young people, especially males.
  For why we identify with characteristics that are opposite to us, I am unsure but would love to find out!
- Anon answered on 9 Mar 2021:
  
  Hi Joe, when children are very little, their role models are the people who they see most, who care for them and are most influential on their lives. It’s usually parents and other close family members. Children imitate others because they are learning about the world and exploring their place in it.
  
  As children grow older and start to choose role models for themselves, many different factors probably come into play. I can’t draw on any specific research here but I would think that the following would have some impact:
  
  – Relationships, because if the child has a positive relationship with somebody they’re more likely to like and respect them.
  
  – Status, because children are more likely to look up to somebody they (and others) feel is important.
  
  – Relevance, because children often choose role models with whom they have something in common – it might be that they hope to have the same career one day, share the same values and interests, or come from a similar background, for example.
  
  These are just my thoughts! I wonder if you have any ideas about how you could investigate this subject?
- Dennis Relojo-Howell answered on 9 Mar 2021:
  
  Hi JoeL. I will answer your questions in two layers. First, as a resilience researcher, I’ve done a lot of readings on who makes excellent role models for adolescents in relation to resilience. A number of studies have demonstrated that while it’s great to have inspirational models from the public arena (e.g., Nicholas Vujicic, the motivational speaker who don’t have arms and legs), it is far more effective if adolescents can see role models who are immediate to them (their parents, a classmate, a teacher, etc.)
  
  Second, I would like to answer it from my own experience. My resilience models are not necessarily those who look like me, or the same sexuality as me, or who have gone through the same life experiences as me. My resilience role model is Stephen Hawking. I don’t think I would be able to endure having a degenerative disease like what he had and still be able to make such a significant contribution to humanity.

Question: The social learning theory states that if a child identifies with a role model then they are more likely to imitate them, but what leads to identification and why do we all identify with different characteristics?

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