Vicarious Learning

Vicarious learning is a process where individuals acquire new knowledge or behaviors by observing others, rather than through direct experience. For example, a person might learn to avoid a certain behavior after watching someone else face negative consequences. It relies on paying attention to others' actions and the outcomes they experience, which helps inform one’s own decisions without having to go through the same experiences firsthand. This type of learning is common in social settings and is fundamental to how humans and animals adapt and develop skills efficiently.