Latent learning occurs when a subject learns something without any observable changes in behavior, without immediate reinforcement, and only shows it when the situation prompts it. In psychology, it shows that people can acquire knowledge passively without motivation and reward. Edward Tolman demonstrated this with rats in mazes, showing that learning can occur “silently” and be expressed later when motivation is introduced. Learning reinforces the cognitive processes which behavior focuses on, going against the early behaviorists theory which states that learning always has reinforcement and behaviour. Example: Before a child has a chance to walk the distance to school alone, they learn the route by observing their parent driving it.
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