What is a primary characteristic of the 'attention' component in observational learning?

The 'attention' component in observational learning is crucial because it involves recognizing and focusing on significant behaviors exhibited by a model. This process requires the observer to selectively attend to certain actions that are deemed important or informative. When observing others, individuals must first notice the behaviors being performed in order to later consider imitating them. The effectiveness of this component hinges on the individual's ability to perceive and understand the behavior, making it foundational to the learning process. This focus on important behaviors ensures that learners are not just passively observing but actively identifying which actions are worthy of mimicry based on their relevance and potential outcomes.