In order for the new behavior to be copied, usually no additional effort is required. One way or another, the observed behavior is stored in memory and creates some internal pattern, which is then reproduced. Imitation mechanisms work by themselves and do not need additional stimulation. But how often the copied behavior will be reproduced, and whether it will be reproduced at all, depends on the influences of the environment, on the reinforcements and punishments that will be associated with this behavior.
And it is not at all necessary that these influences should affect the person himself. Most often, when we observe the behavior of others, we also see the consequences that follow a certain behavior. This observation does not pass without a trace for us. Man (and animals, too) is quite capable of drawing conclusions for himself from observing the consequences of the behavior of others. Indirect, observable reinforcement has the same consequences as reinforcing one’s own behavior.
The strength of indirect reinforcement depends on several factors. First, what matters is the observed effect of reinforcement, that is, the extent to which the appropriate behaviors are rewarded or punished. Further, it is also important that the observed object be more or less similar to the observer, and that the observed behavior be fundamentally feasible.
So, almost all highly developed living beings, to one degree or another, have an instinct to imitate, forcing them to copy the observed behavior of their relatives in games and everyday life. People often copy the behavior of authoritative people who are trusted. The behavior of large groups (normative behavior) is copied in the first place and lays the foundation for the formation of socially normative behavior.
If the observed behavior leads to an obvious reinforcement, then the likelihood of repeating the copied behavior increases, aversive stimuli also matter.
In humans, in addition to all of the above, there is another extremely important mechanism for learning from models. Since many stereotypes of behavior can be described and fixed in texts, the same texts can also describe reinforcing consequences, these texts themselves or verbal (verbal) instructions can be the basis for learning on models.