Which term describes a behavior that is controlled by observing a model's physical movement, excluding vocal-verbal behavior, and occurs immediately after the model?

• A. SHAPING
• B. METHODOLOGICAL BEHAVIORISM
• C. IMITATION
• D. SPONTANEOUS RECOVERY

Answer: (C)

Imitation is a form of learning where the learner copies the motor actions demonstrated by another person. The crucial points here are that the behavior being copied is a physical movement (not vocal-verbal) and that the replication occurs soon after observing the model. This immediate, topographically similar replication distinguishes imitation from other processes. For example, shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations toward a goal over time, not simply copying a modeled movement. Methodological behaviorism is a philosophy about how to study behavior, and spontaneous recovery refers to a previously extinguished response reappearing after a period without exposure—not about copying a model’s actions. So the described behavior fits imitation best.