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Insight learning uses reason to solve a problem, as opposed to trial-and-error. Insight learning occurs all at once, requiring no physical experience.
Facts
Insight learning is done entirely in the mind, with the solution learned through contemplating the entire problem. Reason alone is used to form conclusions, inferences, and judgments.
History
Psychologist Wolfgang Kohler, who was trained at the University of Berlin, first noticed insight learning while studying chimpanzees. Kohler's findings were published in his 1917 book, "The Mentality of Apes."
Features
Kohler's experiments involved placing bananas outside of a chimp's cage. The chimp, Sultan, pieced together two small sticks in order to reach the bananas. In another experiment, chimps had to stack boxes to get bananas.
Causes
A sudden rush of inspiration triggers insight learning. This inspiration brings together new associations and novel approaches to problem-solving.
Famous Ties
Kohler was one of the founding fathers of the Gestalt school of psychology, which looked at the whole problem rather than each individual element.
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