Question 33

Juan was exhibiting deferred imitation.

Deferred imitation occurs when an individual observes an action and then replicates it after a delay. In this case, Juan observed his mother using the computer and later imitated her behavior by tapping on the keyboard.

A) gender role identification

Gender role identification refers to the process by which individuals recognize and adopt the behaviors and attitudes that are culturally associated with their gender. This option is not applicable here, as Juan's action of tapping on the keyboard does not relate to gender roles but rather to imitation of observed behavior.

B) accommodation

Accommodation is a cognitive process wherein individuals modify their existing schemas to incorporate new information. While Juan's behavior could suggest learning, it does not fit the definition of accommodation, as he is mimicking a specific action rather than altering his understanding.

C) deferred imitation

Deferred imitation is accurately described as the act of replicating an observed behavior after some time has passed. This perfectly aligns with Juan's actions of tapping on the keyboard after observing his mother, indicating that he has retained and reproduced the behavior.

D) vicarious reinforcement

Vicarious reinforcement involves learning by observing the consequences of others' actions rather than through direct experience. This does not apply to Juan's behavior, as he is not learning from the rewards or punishments associated with his mother's computer use but is instead imitating her directly.

E) positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is the process of encouraging a behavior by providing a reward following the behavior. This does not describe Juan's behavior, as there is no indication that he is being rewarded for tapping on the keyboard; rather, he is simply imitating a behavior he observed.

Conclusion

Deferred imitation is the most accurate explanation for Juan's behavior, as it emphasizes the ability to replicate actions after observing them. The other options fail to capture the essence of this behavior, focusing instead on unrelated concepts such as cognitive processes or reinforcement. Thus, deferred imitation is the definitive answer as it directly relates to Juan's action of tapping on the keyboard after watching his mother.