Who proposed the concept of the cognitive map?

The concept of the cognitive map was proposed by Edward C. Tolman, who was a prominent figure in the field of psychology. Tolman's research focused on how organisms learn and navigate their environments, leading to the idea that they create mental representations, or "maps," of their surroundings. This concept emerged from his experiments with rats in mazes, where he observed that the rats not only learned to navigate the maze but also developed an understanding of the layout and could find shortcuts even when there were changes to the environment.

Tolman’s work emphasized the mental processes involved in learning and problem-solving, which contrasted with the behaviorist focus on observable behaviors. His notion of cognitive maps illustrates that learning involves more than just conditioning and reinforcement; it encompasses the internal cognitive processes that help individuals understand and interact with the world. This foundational idea contributed significantly to the later development of cognitive psychology and our understanding of spatial memory and navigation.