Final answer:
Edward Tolman's work and ideas in psychology include purposive behavior, intervening variables, and a unique learning theory. He believed that behavior is driven by goals and purposes, and that unobservable mental processes can influence behavior. Tolman's learning theory emphasized the cognitive aspects of learning, which set it apart from the theories proposed by Watson and Thorndike.
Step-by-step explanation:
a) Purposive Behavior: Edward Tolman's idea of purposive behavior refers to the idea that behavior is driven by goals and purposes. He believed that organisms engage in goal-directed behavior and that they make choices based on their understanding of the environment and the potential outcomes of their actions.
Tolman's research with rats in mazes demonstrated that they were able to navigate the maze in a purposeful manner, showing that they had a cognitive map or mental representation of the maze.
Intervening Variable: Tolman also introduced the concept of intervening variables, which are unobservable mental processes that mediate between stimuli and responses. These variables are used to explain how and why behavior unfolds.
For example, Tolman proposed that the cognitive map in the rats' mind was an intervening variable that influenced their behavior in the maze.
b) Operationism: Tolman adhered to the principle of operationism by studying unobservable variables in a way that made them observable and measurable. He believed that unobservable mental processes could be studied indirectly by observing observable behavior.
In his research, he focused on measurable behaviors such as rat's speed and accuracy in navigating the maze as indicators of their cognitive processes.
c) Learning Theory: Tolman's learning theory, known as purposive behaviorism, differed from those proposed by individuals such as Watson and Thorndike. While Watson and Thorndike focused on stimulus-response associations and the role of reinforcement, Tolman emphasized the cognitive aspects of learning.
He believed that learning involved the formation of cognitive maps and the ability to make choices based on these mental representations.
Tolman's theory emphasized the cognitive processes involved in learning, while Watson and Thorndike's theories were more focused on observable behavior and reinforcement.