What is latent learning, and how to maximize it in yourself

Even if you aren’t sure what it is, you’ve likely seen latent learning in action. Consider a time when you realized you were doing something you didn’t know you knew how to do. Or, remember the last time you found yourself unintentionally doing something your parents did while you were growing up. Latent learning can help explain the unexpected knowledge you’ve gained without explicit effort. 

While latent learning may seem like more of a theory than an actionable concept, there are ways you can set yourself up to maximize the process. First, you need to understand what latent learning is, how it manifests, and why it’s important.

Latent learning vs. observational learning

While latent learning and observational learning both involve some level of observation, there are key differences:

• How it occurs: Latent learning happens passively, while observational learning involves intentionally observing and imitating others. For example, you can use observational learning to learn from others’ failures and successes through activities like job shadowing.
• When it’s demonstrated: Observational learning is demonstrated almost immediately as you try to mimic someone else. Behaviors learned through latent learning don’t come out until there’s a reason for them to, which could be weeks, months, or even years later.

The easiest way to remember the difference is that latent learning is often referred to as incidental learning. Meanwhile, observational learning is also called modeling or shaping, as someone is modeling the behavior for you.

Latent learning and cognitive mapping 

Psychologist Hugh C. Blodgett first coined the term “latent learning” in 1929 following an experiment with a rat maze. However, the concept is largely credited to psychologist and theorist Edward Tolman, who built off Blodgett’s work to better define the previously discovered phenomenon.

Tolman's rat maze experiment

Tolman’s rat maze experiment observed three groups of rats placed in a maze. The first group got a treat every time they reached the end. The second group only received treats several days into the experiment after initially being allowed to aimlessly wander the paths. The third group never received treats in the maze. 

As expected, the first group of rats finished the maze more quickly than the others because they were driven by the expectation of a reward. This is the same type of learning physiologist Ivan Pavlov demonstrated by conditioning a dog to salivate at the sound of a bell, which was a conditioned stimulus.

When the second group of rats started to receive treats later in the trial, they quickly began to make it to the end of the maze. Although the second set of rats’ aimless wandering didn’t initially indicate any learning, they had actually begun to create a mental map of the maze. Once given reinforcement in the form of a reward, their subconscious learning became apparent.

This experiment illustrated the concepts of latent learning and cognitive mapping. The rats passively learned the maze without reward, punishment, or reinforcement and demonstrated their knowledge when given a treat, showing latent learning. 

It also showed cognitive mapping, which is the mental process of learning, storing, encoding, and using information about your geographic location to make spatial choices. This experiment demonstrated that latent learning can lead to the creation of mental maps of your environment.

While latent learning is a key part of creating cognitive maps, the concept goes far beyond merely learning about your physical world.

Examples of latent learning

Latent learning can occur at any stage of life and in practically any setting. A few examples of latent learning include the following:

• Memorizing routes: Let’s say a colleague drives you to work for a few weeks until you can buy a car. Once you have the car, you’re able to drive to work using the same route with no mistakes, even though you never tried to memorize it. This is a result of latent learning.
• Becoming like your parents: You spend years telling your child to clean their room. When they grow up and have their own kids, they repeat the same instructions, even though they weren’t consciously trying to follow your example.
• Recalling facts: You didn’t enjoy history and were always tuned out in class. Then, you attend a trivia night as an adult and correctly guess all the answers to questions about the American Revolution.
• Remembering instructions: At a restaurant, you overhear a conversation where a mechanic tells a friend how to check their car’s oil level. Later, when your oil light comes on, you’re able to check the level yourself using the steps you overheard.
• Soaking in song lyrics: Your partner repeatedly plays their favorite song while you do chores around the house. When you hear the song on the radio a few weeks later, you’re surprised to find you know all the words.  
• Observing leadership styles: You might observe your manager’s leadership techniques for years without actively trying to learn them. When you’re promoted to a management position, you suddenly demonstrate effective leadership skills, drawing on your latent observations.
• Learning industry jargon and terminology: You may passively acquire industry-specific vocabulary through exposure in work meetings and emails. Your latent learning may then become evident when you confidently use this terminology in client presentations.

How to support latent learning in yourself and others

Because it’s a passive process, latent learning may seem like something you can’t control or influence. However, you can put yourself in situations where latent learning is more likely to occur. Here are a few ways to support latent learning for yourself and others.

Build a mental map

To help you learn your way around a specific area, try intentionally creating cognitive maps by paying attention to your surroundings. Notice what’s new in the environment, make geographic associations (like remembering the entrance to a park is near a large and unique rock), and study which paths lead where. This can help you better navigate the area when you need to find a specific spot.

You can do this with large environments, like your entire city, or smaller environments, such as a grocery store. For example, you might take note that the cereal aisle is right next to the cookie aisle or that the deli directly faces the front registers. This will help you find items more quickly next time.

Find motivation

Information stored through latent learning only comes out when there’s motivation to use the acquired knowledge. For example, let’s say your favorite pizza restaurant just announced a first-come, first-served flash sale. This is great motivation for you to use the shortcut you learned to get there from your neighborhood after creating a mental map of the area. 

In this scenario, you may not even know you discovered a shortcut until you use it on your way there. That’s an example of latent learning.

Surround yourself with interests

Create space for latent learning by immersing yourself in a subject or environment you enjoy. It’s well established that people are more likely to remember information they like or view as positive than they are to remember neutral information. This can help improve your memory recall.

For example, if you love animals, take a walk through the zoo and spend time watching them. Later on, you may have insight into the behaviors of different species because you recall how they reacted in front of you.

Foster curiosity

It’s easier for humans to learn information they’re curious about. Approaching situations with intellectual curiosity can also help you learn information you don’t find interesting or important. 

When something piques your interest, it helps prepare your brain for learning, even if the information gained is unrelated. 

For example, a teacher could talk about a popular television show while their students work on an art project they find boring. Even though entertaining the students by talking about TV while they work doesn’t seem relevant, the students’ increased curiosity can help them absorb the lesson on painting.  

Ask clarifying questions

Asking questions can help stimulate critical thinking and creative thinking, which promote comprehension and recall. After immersing yourself in a new environment, try asking yourself questions about it to see what information you retained. This can also help solidify the acquired knowledge in your mind and make it easier to recall at a later time.

It’s important to also be open to the idea that some of your existing perceptions could be wrong. This is when unlearning becomes a crucial part of learning. Be willing to challenge your knowledge with tough questions to make sure it’s sound. Use all available information to form your understanding.

Use latent learning to foster personal growth

Although latent learning is subconscious, you can support it in yourself and others by creating an environment and mindset conducive to learning. Latent learning can be just as valuable as other types of learning because it helps you maximize your knowledge in other ways. 

Latent learning is an important part of your professional and personal development. Continually acquiring and storing knowledge can improve your problem-solving skills, adaptability, creativity, innovation, resilience, and relationship building.  

Cultivate the mindset and behaviors that foster continual learning by working with a BetterUp Coach to maximize your abilities.