Chapter Eight: Learning

Behavior and the Mind: A Question of Insight

INTRODUCTION

Behaviorism and cognitive approaches have different explanations for the interesting problem of insight.

WHAT'S AHEAD

• Can an ape show "insight" into a problem?
• Can a pigeon show insight? What would a behaviorist say?

KEY CONCEPTS

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INTRODUCTION

Insight is learning or problem solving that appears to occur in a flash. Experiments with apes seem to suggest that insight can be traced to cognitions, but a demonstration with pigeons seems to suggest it is simply reinforcement history.

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED

XApes and the Out-of-reach Bananas

• Kohler's chimps solve the problem of trying to get bananas which were placed just out of reach.
  
  
• The chimps appeared to solve the problem cognitively by developing a new way of perceiving cause-and-effect relationships.

XPigeons and the Out-of-reach Bananas

• Epstein's pigeon-brained pigeons were also successfully in trying to get toy bananas which were placed out of reach.
  
  
• These bird-brains were probably not capable of higher mental processes so their "insight" was simply a combination of previously learned behavior patterns.
  
  
• A cognitivist was recently seen using a stick to obtain bananas from the pockets of behaviorists....go figure.

LINKS About Insight

• wwwlink: Wolfgang Kohler and chimps who use tools.
• wwwlink: Another view of insight

GLOSSARY

insight

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