Motivation means there has to be a reason to copy their behaviour. Which option best represents this mediational process?

• A. Attention
• B. Retention
• C. Motivation
• D. Reinforcement

Answer: (C)

Motivation in social learning theory is the drive to imitate a model when there’s a reason to copy what they did. In Bandura’s mediational sequence, motivation comes after noticing the model and remembering what was observed and after judging whether reproducing the behavior is worthwhile. If the observer expects a reward or sees the model rewarded (vicarious reinforcement), or fears punishment, they’re more likely to imitate. The statement describes this drive to imitate, so the best match is Motivation. Attention and retention cover noticing and remembering the behavior, while reinforcement relates to the outcomes that can influence future imitation but isn’t the decision to imitate itself.