Helen always drives down Sheridan Avenue to go to the college campus. One morning Helen discovers that Sheridan Avenue is closed at 23rd Street because of flooding. Helen immediately takes a different route to the campus. How would psychologist Edward Tolman explain Helen's behavior?
A)She is classically conditioned to fear water.
B)She has formed a cognitive map of the area.
C)Helen was observing the actions of others in the situation.
D)The standing water was a reliable predictor of danger.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Edward Tolman proposed the theory of cognitive maps, which suggests that humans and animals organize their environment in the form of mental maps. Helen's immediate decision to take a different route suggests that she had formed a cognitive map of the area and was able to navigate based on her knowledge of the area's layout, even when faced with an unexpected obstacle.

Helen Always Drives Down Sheridan Avenue to Go to the College