I sometimes use the example of maze learning to explain the notion of
biological preparedness with respect to learning. I suggest that rats
learn mazes easily, perhaps because they have evolved as burrowing
creatures: the ability to easily learn their way around maze-like
burrows might have been selected for over their evolutionary history.
On the other hand, humans are not so good at learning mazes (I assert
this without any good evidence). Again, we might explain this as due to
the fact that this ability has not been naturally selected in the
environments in which humans and prehuman species have been found during
the last several million years.
My questions:
(1) Are humans poor maze learners, on average (and, here, I am NOT
talking about the paper mazes that are popular components of
intelligence tests, but the sorts of mazes in which one has to walk
around and can get lost)?
(2) Are rats better, on average, at learning mazes than humans? (With
regard to this question, I recall reading that one of the early mazes
designed for rats was modeled after one that had been popular in some
garden in Britain or perhaps France.... Perhaps some sort of comparison
was done with this maze design?)
(3) Of course, there is also difficulty with getting good evidence for
the notion of biological preparedness and the influence of natural
selection on it. But it sounds like a very plausible notion. Does
someone know of a good discussion of this concept (biological
preparedness) noting especially the problems and controversies
associated with it?
Thank you in advance,
Jeff
--
Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D. Office Phone: (480) 423-6213
9000 E. Chaparral Rd. FAX Number: (480) 423-6298
Psychology Department [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
"The truth is rare and never simple."
Oscar Wilde
"No one can accept the fundamental hypotheses of scientific psychology
and be in the least mystical."
Knight Dunlap
