Heath Ledger – Method Actor – Observational Learning
The intention of this analysis is to define observational learning, briefly summarize the events that have surrounded “The Dark Knight” trilogy, including the accidental overdose of Heath Ledger and the Colorado movie theater shooting at “The Dark Knight Rises” viewing, and to state the case for why observational learning applies to these tragic events.
It is the general consensus of the population, in other words searched for on Wikipedia, that the definition of observational learning is as follows, “observational learning (social learning) – suggests that behavior can be acquired by observation and imitation of others unlike traditional learning theories which require reinforcement or punishment for learning to occur” (Wikipedia, List of Social Psychology Theories). But ot further define the term observational learning we will look at the four phase theory produced by Schunk and Zimmerman that will bring clarity to the events we will discuss. “Schunk and Zimmerman (1997) elaborated Bandura’s theory into a social cognitive model of self-regulation in reading and writing. According to this model, learning of a new task occurs in four phases: observation, emulation, self-control, and self-regulation” (Groenendijk, 3).
We will compare Schunk and Zimmerman’s elaboration of Bandura’s theory to the events surrounding “The Dark Knight” trilogy by Christopher Nolan to test the four phases learning model and research what went wrong.
There are two major tragedies that occurred during the Rises’ trilogy that directly incorporate observational learning and the consequences of not being able to follow through with Schunk and Zimmerman’s final two phases of observational learning: self-control and self-regulation. The two events involve method actor Heath Ledger who accidentally overdoses and then during a screening in Colorado of “The Dark Knight Rises” a shooting takes place, killing and injuring many. Heath Ledger was a method actor and this technique of acting involves direct mimicry and in some cases extreme imitation. For example, Heath Ledger locked himself in a hotel room for a month to prepare himself for the role of the Joker in The Dark Knight. The negative psychological effects of method of acting, in such extreme measures, are obvious, but not all actors who use this method of observational acting meet such tragic consequences and it is due to overcoming Schunk and Zimmerman’s final two phases of observational learning: self-control and self-regulation. Equalizing one’s self from the character you live and breathe for such extended amounts of time proved to be a difficult task for Heath Ledger who blurred his reality with pain killers and, “Ledger, who played The Joker in The Dark Knight, died months before its premiere” (Bowles, USA Today). The second tragedy occurred during the “Colorado theater massacre” which occurred the night of the release of The Dark Knight Rises. Since Columbine high, school shootings and other massacre type events have been a sense of glorification to youth and a chance to be remembered in infamy, much as Hitler will be remembered. After observing the terroristic styling of suicide bombers and other forms of genocide, some individuals with idolize, observe, emulate, but never exercise self-control and self-regulation and repeat history.
Resources:
1. Wikipedia/List of Social Psychology Theories. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2010 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_psychology_theories
2. Groenendijk, T., Janssen, T., Rijlaarsdam, G., and van den Bergh, H. (2013). The effect of observational learning on students’ performance, processes, and motivation in two creative domains. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 83(1), 3-28.
3. Bowles, S. (07/23/2012). Tragedy casts a pall over Rises’. USA Today. Retrieved from http://bi.galegroup.com.libproxy.utdallas.edu/essentials/article/GALE|A297343464/5fc6d73379f4100c4801cbddfbd0683e?u=txshracd2602
Billy Simpson 