Question

Tolman and Honzik (1930) conducted research on latent learning with rats. How does their research falsify the claim that reinforcement is necessary for all forms of learning?

Answer 1

ANS) Tolman proposed that humans and animals are active information processess and not as a passive learners as behaviour is concerned.He developed a cognitive way of learning that has become popular in whole psychology.He believed indivuduals lately or rarely respond to the stimuli rather than their focus is on their goals,changing attitudes,conditions,etc.And eventually he found the stimulus-response theory unacceptable because the reinforcement was not necessary for learning to occur. He felt behavior was mainly cognitive.He thought that individuals aquire large number of signals to build a mental image of the enviournment. After the study,he then defined latent learning is not apparent in humans behavior at the time of learning.but which suggests later that when a suitable motivation and circumstances appear, The idea of latent learning was not original to Tolman, but he developed it further.

However, not all learning is as simple and apparent. There are many cases when a person might not even consciously assess the certain information, but when the time comes, they will be able to use it without any problem.Tolman didn’t accept the stimulus-response theory. He believed that reinforcement wasn’t always required for learning to occur.Therefore, His argument for behavior was mainly cognitive, and even termed as cognitive map.