EDWARD TOLMAN’S

PURPOSIVE
BEHAVIORISM
PURPOSIVE BEHAVIORISM

referred to as a Sign Learning Theory and is often seen as

the link between behaviorism and cognitive theory.

Tolman’s theory was founded on two psychological views:

• Gestalt psychologies
• John Watson, the behaviorist
TOLMAN’S KEY CONCEPT
• Learning is always purposive and goal-directed.
He held the notion that an organism acted or responded for
some adaptive purpose. He believed individuals do more
than merely respond to stimuli; they act on beliefs,
attitudes, changing conditions, and they strive toward goals.

• Cognitive maps in rats.

This is tendency to “learn location” signified that rats
somehow formed cognitive maps that help them perform well on
the maze. He also found out that organisms will select the
shortest or easier path to achieve a goal.
• Latent learning. is a kind of learning that remains or stays with
the individual until needed.

• The concept of intervening variable. Tolman believed that

learning is mediated or is influenced by expectations,
perceptions, representations, needs and other internal or
environmental variables.

• Reinforcement not essential for learning. Tolman concluded

that reinforcement is not essential for learning, although it
provides an incentive for performance.
 GESTALT
PSYCHOLOGY
Gestalt psychology was at the forefront of the cognitive
psychology.
It served as the foundation of the cognitive perspective to learning.

Gestalt theory was the initial cognitive response to behaviourism.

It emphasize the importance of sensory wholes and the dynamic
nature of visual perception. The term Gestalt means “form” or
“configuration”.

Psychologist Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Kohler and Kurt

Koffka studied perception and concluded that perceivers (or
learners) are not passive, but rather active.
GESTALT PRINCIPLES

• Law of Proximity. Element that are closer

together will be perceived as
a coherent object.
• Law of Similarity. Elements that
look similar will be perceived as a
part of the same form.

• Law of Closure. We tend to fill

gaps or “close” the figures we
perceived.
• Law of Good Continuation.
Figures with edges that are
smooth are more likely seen as
continuous than edges that have
abrupt or sharp angles.
• Law of Good Pragnanz.
The stimulus will be organized into
as good a figure as possible.
• Law of Figure/Ground. We tend
to pay attention and perceive
things in the foreground first.
 THANK YOU!

Reporters:
• Henna Jane D. Bael
• Ica Marie Panong