Remember to respond to two peers while being respectful of and sensitive to their viewpoints. Consider advancing the discussion in the following ways:

• Post an article, video, or additional research to reinforce a peer's idea or challenge them to see their point from a different perspective.
• Consider asking a content-relevant question or discussing your personal experience.

MALIK POST

As a basketball coach, I’ve seen how powerful behavior modeling can be. One example that stands out is how I handle pressure during close games. I always try to stay calm, focused, and positive, even when things get intense. Over time, I noticed my players started copying that behavior. Instead of panicking or getting frustrated, they stayed locked in and followed our game plan, which helped us perform better as a team. The results were great, we had fewer turnovers in high-pressure moments, better communication, and more confidence during tough games. But there was also an unintended consequence. Some players became so focused on staying calm that they didn’t always express their emotions or ask for help when they were struggling. I had to remind them that staying calm doesn’t mean bottling things up. As a coach, I think it’s very important to be mindful of the way our behavior influences others. Players are always watching how we react, even when we don’t realize it. If I model respect, discipline, and teamwork, my players are more likely to carry those same values with them, on the court and in their everyday lives. That’s part of what makes coaching so impactful.

The relationship between a coach and a player is special. There’s a level of trust and respect, and that makes behavior modeling even more powerful. When players admire or look up to their coach, they naturally start to imitate what they see. That’s why I try to lead by example in every practice and game. This connects directly to social cognitive theory, which explains how we learn by watching others. My players observe how I respond to situations, they remember it, and then they apply it in their own way. This back-and-forth between thinking and doing is what helps build not only skills, but strong character and confidence in my athletes.

DELLA POST

One example of behavior modeling in my personal life comes from when I was working as a toddler teacher at a daycare. I always made it a point to use calm, respectful communication with the children—even in stressful moments. Over time, I noticed several toddlers starting to mirror this behavior with their peers, using words like “please” and “thank you” and calmly expressing their needs rather than yelling or grabbing.

The consequence of that behavior was a more peaceful and cooperative classroom environment. An unintended consequence was that I began applying the same patient, emotionally attuned communication style in my own parenting, which helped me build stronger connections with my children.

I believe people should be mindful of the influence their behavior has on others—especially in caregiving or leadership roles—because we often serve as unintentional models. For example, a child observing a parent who manages frustration with deep breaths instead of yelling is learning emotional regulation without direct instruction.

The relationship between the model (me, the teacher) and the imitators (the toddlers) was one of trust and consistency. This is significant because, according to Bandura’s social learning theory, imitation is more likely when the model is perceived as nurturing, authoritative, or competent (Bandura, 1977).

This example reveals the synergy between thoughts and behaviors. I had the internal mindset that children deserve respect and emotional guidance, which then influenced my behavior. Over time, the children internalized similar patterns through observation, demonstrating how social cognition and modeling reinforce one another.

Studying behaviorism connects strongly to emotional intelligence in this case. Emotional intelligence involves understanding and managing our own emotions while recognizing their impact on others (Goleman, 1995). My ability to regulate my responses and model healthy communication helped shape the emotional development of the children in my care.