Though Charlotte tried in vain to reach a puzzle on the top shelf by standing on a chair, she simply could not reach it. Suddenly, she realized that by placing a thick catalog on the seat of the chair, she would be high enough to reach the puzzle. Charlotte's solution is best explained by which of the following?
A) her previous history of conditioning
B) her previous experiences with reaching objects that are out of reach
C) latent learning
D) insight

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Charlotte's sudden realization of using a catalog to reach the puzzle is an example of insight, which refers to a sudden and novel solution to a problem that occurs without evident trial-and-error behavior. This is different from latent learning, where learning occurs in the absence of reinforcement or behavior changes. Her previous conditioning and experiences may have influenced her problem-solving abilities but do not explain her sudden insight in this specific situation.

Though Charlotte Tried in Vain to Reach a Puzzle on the Top