Latent learning is also known as incidental learning. It is a passive type of cognitive learning in which an individual understands the information or gains new knowledge only when there is an incentive to display the learned knowledge. It is a type of learning that is on a cognitive level and does not require any reward or punishment to be awarded after the individual learns a new piece of information. For instance, latent learning occurs when you are facing an issue and suddenly you combine observations and knowledge to figure out the solution or means to overcome the issue. People usually refer to it as an “a-ha” moment or light bulb moment but it is just a cognitive product of latent learning (Beatey, 2019).
This type of learning works on a subconscious level rather than the conscious level. New information is retained without any effort or reinforcement subconsciously majorly to observation. The information received is later put to use when there is sufficient motivation or reason (Gillette, 2022). Even though observation is a major step in latent learning and hence may show similarities to observational learning, both of them are different. There is an absence of reinforcement or motivation which leads the individual to observe a phenomenon in latent learning, unlike observational learning.
Latent Learning In Everyday Life
Ever since the early years of life, once an infant develops the cognitive abilities that can be used to observe his/her surroundings, latent learning plays an important role. An infant observes the parents in their day-to-day activities primarily to learn to perform any task. After sufficient cognitive development, an infant observes parents involved in tasks like getting up from the couch, drinking water when thirsty, opening their mouth to receive food, using their hand to call someone or take any object, or wiping their face when some dust falls. Every minute task is constantly being observed by the infant and is depicted when the necessary motivation plays a role. Taking account of this case, when an infant feels like walking he or she tries getting up from the bed, asks for water while thirsty, opens mouth for food while hungry, uses their hands to take objects to play with them while bored, or wiping their face if any dirt falls on it. Factors such as thirst, hunger, boredom, safety, and locomotion act as a motivation or incentive to use the information retained through observation, while the activities are the subconscious by-products of latent learning.
As we grow up, the latent learning process becomes more refined as we do not mislearn habits due to improved cognitive abilities. The most common latent learning experience is when I am studying for examinations. From kindergarten to presently in college, I notice this cognitive phenomenon playing a huge role. During classes, we tend to either concentrate fully or partially sometimes and not memorize what we heard in class when the teacher is explaining academic concepts. While we sit for the examination, when we need to write the answer for a question or fill the paper with more content we get reminded of knowledge we acquired either through listening in classes or brushing through academic books casually from recent times or a while ago.
Furthermore, I have observed other areas where latent learning plays a role. Learning dance, acting, and any performance arts are also examples. We observe dancers on television and try to imitate the steps without conscious effort when the same song is played in another situation for a competition or performance. Even in the case of cooking food, we tend to casually watch videos of cooking on YouTube but if there is no means of food available for a meal we cook a meal for ourselves.
Latent learning can be seen in every stage and every day of our life ranging from the small tasks of singing for a talent show after listening to my car radio to the big tasks of putting off a fire after watching how to do so in many films to save myself from grave danger. It is a subconscious cognitive phenomenon triggered by strong motivation and incentives.
References
Beatey, C. (2019, October 31). Latent Learning (Definition + Examples) - Practical Psychology. Practical Psychology. https://practicalpie.com/latent-learning-definition-examples/
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