Essay on Cognitive Maps in Rats and Men - 1374 Words

Cognitive Maps in Rats and Men Edward Chance Tolman made many significant findings to the studies of learning , memory and motivation. By todays standards he would be considered a behaviorist. â€Å"He is best remembered for being a pioneer in cognitive psychology during a time when behaviorists dominated the field. Tolman made several significant contributions to the field of psychology. At Berkeley University he created a cognitive theory of learning, which became his trademark to the field. He thought of learning as developing from bits of knowledge and cognition about the environment and how the organism relates to it â€Å"(Kimble et al, 1991). Tolmans experiment questions whether complex internal cognitive activity occurs in an†¦show more content†¦In his studies of rats, Tolman aimed to demonstrate that animals could learn facts about the world that they could subsequently use in a flexible manner, rather than simply learning automatic responses that were triggere d off by environmental stimuli. According to Tolman cognitive maps are tools we use to construct and store spatial knowledge, they allow the mind to visualize images in order to reduce cognitive load, and enhance recall and learning of information. It is this map that indicates paths and environmental relationships, which inevitably determines what responses the organism will make .Tolman noted that learning involves the learners creation of cognitive maps or internal schemas, that are not specifically, directly or instantly tied to performance. This means that new concepts are learned but not necessarily put into action immediately. This is the basic principle of latent learning , a theory which leads Tolman away from behaviorism and toward cognitive behaviorism. Cognitive behaviorism states that there is a purpose for all of an organisms behaviors. â€Å"Like Gestaltists, Tolman believed that looking at stimuli and responses alone is not an effective way of studying animal and human behavior. Unlike many other behaviorists, Tolman theorized about internal mental aspects of behavior. For example, as rats go through mazes, they create cognitive maps that they rely upon toShow MoreRelatedCognitive Maps in Rats and Men1456 Words   |  6 PagesCognitive Maps in Rats and Men Edward Chance Tolman made many significant findings to the studies of learning, memory and motivation. Today Tolman would be considered a Cognitive Behaviorist, he developed his own brand of behaviorism which emphasized the purposeful nature behind an organisms actions, taking into account its goals and motivations. â€Å"He is best remembered for being a pioneer in cognitive psychology during a time when behaviorists dominated the field. Tolman made several significantRead MorePerspectives Paper1467 Words   |  6 PagesBehaviorists and cognitive psychologists have debated for many years. It is from these two schools of thought that dueling informational ideas have been born. Originally, behaviorism was the leading school of thought being led by John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner. Later new ideas regarding the mind became more prominent. Edward C. Tolman was one of the more prominent figures of this field. Behaviorists looked for more evidence of behavior and rejected any ideas ab out the mind. An idea that was highlyRead MoreThe Fundamental Principle Of Concept Of Parsimony1486 Words   |  6 Pagescould strengthen ones learning. His approach to behaviourism was very parsimonious, using only a strict few simples to explain a variety of phenomena, e.g. ‘The Little Albert’ experiment’. The idea round the experiment was that by pairing a white rat (CS) with a loud bang (UCS) one could induce fear (UCR) which is known as classical conditioning. With these observable events Watson’s was able to influence many theorists and their contributions to behaviourism. Firstly I refer to Skinner’s workRead MoreCognitive Learning Theory1475 Words   |  6 PagesCognitive Learning Theory Angela Baker PSY 331 Mr. Domingo Mamaril June 21, 2010 Cognitive Learning Theory Cognitive theorists try to explain human behavior by understanding how we process and store new information. The cognitive theories of learning originated from the gestalt theory. 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However, areRead MoreOverview of Bulimia Essay2050 Words   |  9 PagesWallace, 2011). During this time, Tolman advanced the learning theory by demonstrating that the content of learning may be more cognitive than behavioral. After teaching rats to run through mazes, he discovered that the rats could also swim or ride a trolley car through the maze. He concluded that the rats develo ped a cognitive map of the maze itself. Tolman argued that rats form expectancies about the maze based on their experience with it (1932). His theory is now referred to as the Expectancy TheoryRead MoreFour Main Perspectives in Psychology2425 Words   |  10 PagesThere are four main perspectives in psychology. These are known as; behaviourism, humanism, psychodynamic and cognitive. Each of them explain some aspects of human behaviour well, but one perspective cannot explain all human behaviour. Behaviourism is primarily concerned with observable behaviour; the behaviour which can be watched and seen by others. It does not focus on any internal events, such as thinking, memory or the mind. It suggests that all behaviours are the result of some sort of stimulusRead More The Rights Of Animals Essay example1754 Words   |  8 PagesPsychology, Philosophy, Economics and Foreign Affairs Web Sites Animal rights is a catchphrase akin to human rights. It involves, however, a few pitfalls. First, animals exist only as a concept. Otherwise, they are cuddly cats, curly dogs, cute monkeys. A rat and a puppy are both animals but our emotional reaction to them is so different that we cannot really lump them together. Moreover: what rights are we talking about? The right to life? The right to be free of pain? The right to food? Except the right