Page 150 - Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills: A Guide for Professionals

known as observational learning or modeling. Learning by modeling involves the observation of some
behavior or pattern of behaving, which is followed by the performance of either the same or a similar behavior.
Albert Bandura is associated with this method of learning by modeling.7 In behavior modification for weight
reduction, for example, a person could “eat like a thin person” to model after the appropriate food choices,
portion sizes, and duration of meals of someone who demonstrates the skill.

The effectiveness of learning by modeling appears to be directly related to certain characteristics of the
model. The two characteristics found to be most relevant are the observer’s similarity to the model and the
status of the model. The more similar the characteristics of the model are to those of the observer, the higher
is the probability that learning by modeling will occur. Movie and television stars and other well-known
persons capitalize on modeling by producing books and videotapes of their fitness and nutrition programs.
Many people model after the behavior of a person with “status,” even though equally effective or superior
programs could be developed by relatively unknown but professionally trained nutritionists and exercise
physiologists.

Shaping behavior begins at an early age. Parents and caregivers of children serve as role models in forming
eating habits and behaviors. Both good and poor eating habits and healthy or restricted behaviors can be
modeled and thus communicated to children and adolescents who are shaping eating behaviors that will likely
remain with them through adulthood.8 Long-term food choices of children can stem from the dietary patterns
of parental figures. Nutrition counseling may be geared toward parents for their benefit and for the health of
their children.8,9

To take advantage of modeling, nutrition professionals may try sharing success stories of people who have
made permanent dietary modifications for the benefit of their health. In group therapy, clients who have
succeeded in changing eating practices may serve as models for others. Keep in mind that the client often
views the counselor as a model, and to this end, nutrition professionals should be following the healthy
nutrition recommendations given to others.

Behavior modeling is used in employee training programs to teach basic supervisory techniques, selling
skills, and a variety of other verbal skills through observation of films and videotapes. New employees may be
assigned to work with current employees who serve as models of desirable behaviors. Managers should make
sure that their own behaviors exemplify what they expect of employees.5 If the supervisor adds an extra 10
minutes to the allowed time for a coffee break, for example, employees may model after the example set.

A great deal of human learning and behavior undoubtedly is a result of modeling, even though traditionally
emphasis has been placed on the stimulus–response or behavior approach to explaining changes in behavior,
or the acquisition and extinction of responses.6 These three approaches—conditioning, operant conditioning,
and modeling—form the basis of behavior modification. The behavioristic position is that many behaviors are
learned or alterable through use of these three learning principles.

Note, however, that individuals might be more or less resistant to behavior change depending on where
they are on the continuum of Stages of Change (see Chapter 5 for an in-depth discussion of the Stages of
Change model). One barrier to effective communication is that a counseling approach may be implemented
erroneously in a particular stage, but may be effective in a different stage. Consequently, counseling for
behavior change may employ various approaches to counseling at particular stages.4,5

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