AP Psychology Practice Test

What best describes latent learning?

1. Learning that is immediately visible

2. Learning that occurs without incentives

3. Learning that is not apparent until an incentive is presented

4. Learning that happens exclusively in social settings

The correct answer is: Learning that is not apparent until an incentive is presented

Latent learning refers to a type of learning that occurs without any immediate reinforcement or rewards and is not readily expressed until there is a reason to demonstrate it. This phenomenon highlights that organisms can acquire knowledge without obvious reinforcement at the time of learning. For instance, a rat may learn the layout of a maze without receiving food as a reward, but when food is later introduced, the rat can navigate the maze efficiently, revealing the knowledge it had previously acquired. The focus of latent learning is on the change in behavior that becomes apparent only when a relevant incentive is introduced, making the description of learning that is not apparent until an incentive is presented particularly fitting. This distinguishes latent learning from other forms of learning where immediate reinforcement is required or where the learning is observable right away.