Which term describes learning that occurs without an obvious change in behavior?

• A. Proactive Interference
• B. Latent Learning
• C. Anomie
• D. Organization

Answer: (B)

Latent learning is learning that happens without any obvious change in behavior right away. You’re absorbing information and building knowledge, but you don’t show it until there’s motivation or a reason to demonstrate it. For example, in maze studies, rats can learn the layout and form a cognitive map even when they aren’t rewarded. When a reward is later introduced, they navigate the maze efficiently, revealing the knowledge that was acquired but not previously expressed. This shows that learning can occur without reinforcement or observable behavior changes, and only later does performance reveal what was learned.

Proactive interference would describe old memories getting in the way of new learning, not learning that’s hidden until later. Anomie is a sociological term about norms breaking down. Organization isn’t a specific learning type describing this phenomenon.