1. Cognitive Learning Theories

2. Directions for Maze Round #1 Get into partners. At least one partner must have a watch, phone or some other time recording device Choose one partner to go through the maze first. Once the maze is completed, the person to complete it will receive a reward. Time and record how long it takes the first partner to complete the maze.

3. Directions for Maze Round #2 Switch tasks. The recorder now completes the maze and the maze-taker now records time. This time, there is no reward for the completion of the maze. Time and record how long it takes Partner #2 to complete the maze

4. Directions for Maze Round #3 This time, both partners will complete the maze at the same time. Whoever finishes first, gets the reward. Who “learned” the maze the best? Partner #1 or Partner #2?

5. EC Tolman E.C. Tolman showed that rats will learn about their environments even in the absence of reinforcement. He trained some rats to run through mazes to reach food. Other rats were simply permitted to explore the mazes. They received no food or other rewards. After the unrewarded rats had run around in the mazes for 10 days, food was placed in a box at the far end of the mazes. After only one or two reinforced efforts, the previously unrewarded rats reached the food as quickly as the rewarded rats. Tolman determined that the rats had learned about the layouts of the maps even when they were not rewarded for their learning. Tolman distinguished between what organisms learn and what they do. Rats would learn about the mazes even when they roamed about without a goal. However, they had no reason to run efficient routes to the far ends of the mazes until they were rewarded for doing so. Therefore, even though they had knowledge of the most rapid routes all along, this knowledge had been hidden, or latent, until the rats had reason to use it – when there was food at the end.

6. Latent Learning Not all learning happens through stimulus or rewards Cognitive psychologists believe learning is purposeful, not simply mechanical Latent learning is learning that remains hidden until it is needed – EX: E.C. Tolman and mice in maze

7. Discussion: Do video games teach violent behavior?

8. Aaron Alexis, 12 killed in Washington, D.C. Naval Yard, “obsessed with military-style shooting games.”

9. Adam Lanza, Sandy Hook School Shooting 26 killed, Played 1 st person shooter video games as well as a game called “School Shooting”

10. Nehemiah Griego, 15, killed parents and three siblings. Loved to play Modern Warfare and Grand Theft Auto.

11. 8-year old Louisiana boy kills 90 year old woman after playing a game of Grand Theft Auto.

12. James Holmes, killed 12 people in movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. Enjoyed 1 st person action video games.

13. Observational Learning Knowledge and skills are acquired by watching others Are there any skills you have learned through observation? Bandura & Bobo experiment: – Aggression can be learned by observing aggressive behavior

14. Observational Learning Knowledge and skills are acquired by watching others Are there any skills you have learned through observation? Bandura & Bobo experiment: – Aggression can be learned by observing aggressive behavior