latent learning

(noun)

A form of acquiring knowledge or skill that is not immediately expressed in an overt response; it occurs without obvious reinforcement, to be applied later.

Related Terms

Examples of latent learning in the following topics:

  • Latent Learning

    • Latent learning occurs without any obvious conditioning or reinforcement of a behavior, illustrating a cognitive component to learning.
    • Latent learning is a form of learning that is not immediately expressed in an overt response.
    • Latent learning implies that learning can take place without any behavioral changes being immediately present.
    • This demonstrates latent learning: Ravi had learned the route to school but had no need to demonstrate this knowledge earlier.
    • Edward Tolman was a behavioral psychologist who first demonstrated latent learning in rats.

  • The Nature and Meaning of Dreams

    • Freud's theory described dreams as having both latent and manifest content.
    • Latent content consists of deep unconscious wishes or fantasies, while manifest content is superficial and meaningless.
    • Manifest content often masks or obscures latent content.

  • Defining Learning

  • Defining Learning

  • Specific Learning Disorder

    • Specific learning disorder is a classification of disorders in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner within one of several domains.
    • Often referred to as learning disabilities, learning disorders are characterized by inadequate development of specific academic, language, and speech skills.
    • The causes of learning disabilities are not well understood.
    • Learning disabilities often run in the family—children with learning disabilities are likely to have parents or other relatives with similar difficulties.
    • Social support may also improve learning for students with learning disabilities.

  • Defining Learning

    • Learning involves a change in behavior or knowledge that results from experience.
    • In contrast, learning is a change in behavior or knowledge that results from experience.
    • There are three main types of learning: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.
    • Observational learning is just as it sounds: learning by observing others.
    • Classical conditioning is a process by which we learn to associate events, or stimuli, that frequently happen together; as a result of this, we learn to anticipate events.

  • Educational Psychology

    • Educational psychology is the study of how humans learn in educational settings.
    • Educational psychology is the study of how humans learn within an educational setting.
    • School psychology applies educational psychology, along with the principles of clinical psychology, to treat children's learning and/or behavior problems.
    • Educational psychology aims to understand a child's cognitive development and learning characteristics.
    • Each looks at how children progress through learning stages as they age.

  • Kohler and Insight Learning

    • Insight learning occurs when a new behavior is learned through cognitive processes rather than through interactions with the outside world.
    • Insight learning was first researched by Wolfgang Kohler (1887–1967).
    • Kohler's most famous study on insight learning involved Sultan the chimpanzee.
    • Insight learning suggests that we learn not only by conditioning, but also by cognitive processes that cannot be directly observed.
    • Insight learning is a form of learning because, like other forms, it involves a change in behavior; however, it differs from other forms because the process is not observable.

  • Bandura and Observational Learning

    • Observational learning, also referred to as modeling or social learning, occurs by observing, retaining, and replicating behavior seen in others.
    • Stemming from Albert Bandura's social learning theory, observational learning allows for learning without any direct change to behavior; because of this, it has been used as an argument against strict behaviorism, which argues that behavior must occur for learning to have taken place.
    • Observational learning can teach completely new behaviors or can affect the frequency of previously learned behaviors.
    • According to Bandura's social learning theory, four conditions, or steps, must be met in order for observational or social learning to occur:
    • The theory of social learning states that behavior such as aggression is learned through observing and imitating others.

  • Genetic Basis of Intelligence and Learning

    • Although environment also plays an important role, genetics influence human intelligence and our capacity to learn in many ways.
    • A central topic in psychology involves the study of human cognition and the capacity to learn.
    • While environmental influences play a large role, our ability to learn is also largely shaped by genetics.
    • Although the field is young, it is expected that with new technologies and new ways in which to observe learning, the paradigms of what students need and how students learn best will be further refined with actual scientific evidence.
    • Discuss the role genetics play in our cognition and our ability to learn.