Latent learning is the subconscious retention of information in the absence of reinforcement or motivation, becoming visible in behavior only later, once sufficient motivation to use it exists. It can arise simply from observing one's surroundings with no particular motivation to learn their geography at the time, with the resulting knowledge exploited later when a motivation such as the biological need to find food or escape trouble finally arises; what sets it apart from other observational learning is the absence, at the time of learning, of any reinforcement, association or motivation tied to the stimulus.
Facts
Core ClaimLatent learning is the subconscious retention of information without reinforcement or motivation. 1 Classification
Type of Phenomenon Connections
Associated With
Demonstrated latent learning in rats that learned maze layouts without reinforcement, revealing the learning only once a reward was introduced.
Tolman's maze experiments are the classic demonstration of latent learning and cognitive maps formed without reinforcement.
In Branch
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Latent learning
Lead, sentence 1
Latent learning is the subconscious retention of information without reinforcement or motivation.
lead section, phenomenon-kind classification
The lack of reinforcement, associations, or motivation with a stimulus is what differentiates this type of learning from the other learning theories such as operant conditioning or classical conditioning.
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