Tolman's Theory
Edward Tolman proposed a theory that had a cognitive flair. He was a behaviorist but valued internal mental phenomena in his explanations of how learning occurs.
Some of his central ideas were:
Behavior should be studied at a local level.
Learning can occur without reinforcement.
Learning can occur without a change in behavior.
Intervening variables must be considered.
Behavior is purposive.
Expectations of fact behavior.
Learning results in an organized body of information.
Based on his research of rats, Tolman proposed that rats and other organisms develop cognitive maps of their environments. They learn where different parts of the environment are situated in relation to one another. The concept of a cognitive map also called a mental map has continued to be a focus of research.
Edward Tolman proposed a theory that had a cognitive flair. He was a behaviorist but valued internal mental phenomena in his explanations of how learning occurs.
Some of his central ideas were:
Behavior should be studied at a local level.
Learning can occur without reinforcement.
Learning can occur without a change in behavior.
Intervening variables must be considered.
Behavior is purposive.
Expectations of fact behavior.
Learning results in an organized body of information.
Based on his research of rats, Tolman proposed that rats and other organisms develop cognitive maps of their environments. They learn where different parts of the environment are situated in relation to one another. The concept of a cognitive map also called a mental map has continued to be a focus of research.