What term describes the act of copying the behavior or attitude demonstrated by another person?

The term that best describes the act of copying the behavior or attitude demonstrated by another person is 'modeling.' This concept originates from social learning theory, proposed by Albert Bandura, which emphasizes that individuals can learn behaviors through the observation of others.

Modeling involves not just imitation but also the complex processes of observing, retaining, and reproducing actions seen in others, particularly in social contexts. It explains how people can learn new behaviors by witnessing others and then replicating those behaviors themselves. This process highlights the role of social context in learning and behavior change.

On the other hand, while imitation might seem like a suitable answer, it is more narrow in scope and refers specifically to the act of copying an action without necessarily the broader understanding or context that modeling entails. Reinforcement and conditioning relate more to behavioral responses to stimuli rather than observational learning. They focus on the consequences of behaviors and the associations formed through experiences, rather than the act of observing and then adopting someone else's behavior.