Imitative learning is:

• A. A type of social learning in which the learner internalizes aspects of the model's goals and behavioral strategies. Focus on fulfilling goal of the model. TOM needed
• B. Learning by trial-and-error without modeling
• C. Learning that ignores the model's goals
• D. Learning only about the environment

Answer: (A)

Imitative learning is a form of social learning where the learner copies the model’s specific actions and tries to fulfill the model’s goal, using an understanding of the model’s intentions. This often requires attributing mental states to the model (Theory of Mind) to grasp not just what was done but why it was done. Because the learner aims to reproduce the same actions to achieve the same outcome, it goes beyond simply trying random actions or focusing only on the end result.

This helps distinguish it from trial-and-error learning, where the learner explores actions without replicating the model’s exact behavior. It also differs from approaches that ignore the model’s goals or from learning that is limited to the environment without aiming to imitate the model’s demonstrated method.