Helen always drives down Sheridan Avenue to go to the college campus. One morning Helen discovers that Sheridan Avenue is closed at Twenty-third 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 believed that organisms formed cognitive maps or mental representations of their environment based on their experiences and knowledge. Helen's ability to immediately take a different route suggests that she had formed a cognitive map of the area, allowing her to navigate an unexpected change in her usual route.

Helen Always Drives Down Sheridan Avenue to Go to the College