Cognitive Approaches to Learning

Cognitive learning theory recognizes the value of classical or operant approaches to learning. However, cognitive researchers focus on unseen mental processes that take place during learning.

Latent Learning

Evidence for the importance of cognitive processes in learning comes from experiments with animals, usually lab rats. What was discovered was the existence of latent learning. You can think of the term "latent" as referring to hidden learning.

Behavior is learned, but it doesn't get expressed until there's an incentive-a reward-for expressing it. Your text explains what this means in terms of lab experiments.

However, latent learning can be explained in terms of how you might store up latent (unexpressed) understanding. Let's say you live in a city, in an apartment, and you walk 10 blocks to work and 10 blocks home from work every day. Day by day, you'll pick up information about where shops are located, what streets to follow, and so on. Think of this information as your personal cognitive map, a mental map of your route to and from the office.

One day your department head, Ms. Frost, invites you to an after-work gathering at her spacious flat, which is just a block from where you live. You're thrilled. This could be your

Chance to mingle with some of the firm's bigwigs and power players. However, Ms. Frost also asks a favor of you. "Could you stop by on your way home and pick up four bottles of Leaning Tree Merlot from that shop on 10th and Claremont? Would you mind? I'll lend you the department debit card." You cheerfully agree, despite the fact that you don't much care for wine. "No problem," you say after a moment-a moment spent consulting your cognitive map, a moment in which you remember the storefront and "The Wine Cellar" sign. "I know just where that shop is," you say happily.

"I pass by it every day."

Observational Learning: Learning through Imitation

According to social psychologist Albert Bandura and his col- leagues, a big part of human learning comes from observing the behavior of other people. We engage in observational learning.

Bandura's famous "Bobo" experiment is explained on pages 191-192 of your text. Children were shown a film in which an adult was punching an inflatable clown doll, Bobo. Later the children were given a chance to play with actual Bobos. And, lo and behold, the typical form of play was whacking and punching Bobo-often in the exact same manner as did the adult in the film.

"Bobo" behavior may not be desirable among schoolchildren. However, observational learning can also encourage positive behavior, like sharing or adopting polite behavior. In any case, observational learning is most likely to occur when it's rewarded in some way.

Violence on Television and in Video Games: Does the Media's Message Matter?

Do people tend to imitate the behavior modeled for them by actors (or animated characters) in films, in video games, or on television? A great host of studies have been devoted to this question. And, as it turns out, there's a rather disturbing consensus among researchers that children and adults are inclined to emulate the often psychopathic behavior of virtual or live screen models. This may especially be the case when modeled aggression, smoking, or careless use of alcohol is also reflected to some extent in one's peer group or in one's native culture.