Insight & Latent Learning

WOW!

From last lesson……

Describe two factors that could influence whether or not you would imitate a model’s behaviour. (2 marks)

The Answer

The consequence that the model incurred as a result of their behaviour

The amount of attention that the observer paid to the model

The observer’s ability to remember what the model did The observers ability to copy the modelled behaviour The amount of motivation that the observer has to

repeat a task The charateristics of the model, such as similarities to

the observer, attractiveness, and trustworthiness. The observer’s admiration for the model, in terms of

their status, expertise or power.

Today’s Lesson

Explain and apply insight learning as informed by Wolfgang Kőhler 

Explain and apply latent learning as informed by Edward Tolman

Insight learning

The ‘ah ha!’ Experience

Finally see the solution to a problem after mental manipulation

The solution is usually performed without error

Insight learning – sultan the chimp

Food placed out of reach

Two sticks within reach

Each too short to reach

Placed together the sticks can be used to get the food

Insight learning – Stages of Insight

Preparation - sultan tries to reach with his arms, tries to reach with one stick, all attempts fail

Incubation - sits at the back of the cage and seems to have given up

Insightful experience - realises he is holding both sticks and can join them together

Verification - uses the double stick to reach the food.

Yiiiieeeeeeew!

Insight Learning

Insight Learning

Trial and Error important but….. Mental manipulation of the elements

of a problem also important

Cognitive processes also involved – this is different to traditional CC and OC which ignore cognition

Latent Learning

Latent – hidden

Latent learning – the organism decides not to perform an action that has been learned

Learning can occur even without reinforcement

Observing behaviour is the only way to measure learning

I know many songs but I’m not singing them now!

Tolman

Tolman’s rats in a maze

Rats run a maze with a food reward at the finish point

All rats run the maze once a day Performance timed 3 groups of rats1. Always reinforced at the end of the

maze2. Never reinforced at the end of the

maze3. Not reinforced until the 11th day

Tolman’s rats in a maze - results Group 1 - got faster and faster Group 2 - remained slow Group 3 - showed no improvement until

reinforcement was introduced on day 11 then were even faster than group 1

Conclusions Learning can happen without

reinforcement Behaviour not displayed unless incentive to

do so Learning and performance are different

Tolman’s Rats - Learning Cognitive Maps Rats had developed a mental picture

of the maze as they learned the general layout

Once the cognitive map was formed rats could chose alternate routes when doors blocked

Rats always took the shortest possible route around the block ‘principle of least effort’

We all have cognitive maps Not always perfectly accurate