Question

In the first part of an experiment, one group of rats received reinforcement after correctly navigating a maze. A second group received no reinforcement after wandering around the maze. In the next part, both groups received reinforcement after navigating the maze. Despite not receiving reinforcement at the beginning of the experiment, the second group performed as well as the first. The learning that occurred in the second group in the absence of reinforcement is called ________

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is Option C: Latent learning.

Explanation:

Latent learning occurs when there is no obvious means of reinforcement of the associations that are being learned like in the case of the second group of rats in this example.  Another form of learning is called observational learning, where we learn from watching others and then copy or model what it is they do or say. There are many ways that we learn in a latent capacity in our everyday lives. For example, a child may learn the way to school by watching the actions of his or her parents, but they many only manifest that they know the way themselves to school when required to go themselves at a later date.