Yolanda has taught college Psychology and Ethics, and has a doctorate of philosophy in counselor education and supervision.
Cognitive Map: Definition and Examples
Definition
Jill and Lisa are two close friends who met in college. Since they live in different cities, they don't get to visit each other as often as they used to. After Jill gave birth to her first daughter, Lisa decided to pay her a visit. Once she arrived in town and picked up a gift for the new baby, Lisa called Jill to get directions to her house. Without putting in much effort, Jill was able to tell Lisa exactly how to get to her house from the boutique where she bought the gift. Jill did not have to look at a map or use any other aids to give directions; it was all done from memory. But how was she able to do this? To answer this question, we must explore the concept of cognitive maps.
A cognitive map is a mental picture or image of the layout of one's physical environment. The term was first coined by a psychologist named Edward Tolman in the 1940s. Cognitive maps can help us navigate unfamiliar territory, give directions, and learn or recall information. When we create cognitive maps, we often omit information that is irrelevant to the task at hand. This means that they can differ from the actual environment we are mapping.

An error occurred trying to load this video.
Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support.
You must cCreate an account to continue watching
Register to view this lesson
As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed.
Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons.
Try it nowAlready registered? Log in here for access
BackYou're on a roll. Keep up the good work!
Just checking in. Are you still watching?
Yes! Keep playing.Example
Let's look at the Jill and Lisa example a bit more closely. Jill has taken in multiple signals and cues from her environment, which allowed her to create a cognitive map of routes to her house. So when Lisa asked Jill for directions to her house, Jill was able to create a mental image of the street names, businesses, and landmarks along the way and relate that information to Lisa. This mental representation is a cognitive map.
Humans are not the only animals that have this ability. For example, Tolman conducted a research study using rats and determined that rats use cognitive maps to find where rewards in a maze are located. This suggests that rats are able to create and use cognitive maps to help them navigate their environment.
More Examples
Suppose Jill and Lisa went out to eat to a restaurant during their visit. Jill had to go to the bathroom to change her baby's diaper, so she asked her waitress where it was located. The waitress tells her that to get to the bathroom she needs to follow the path with the red carpet and make a right when she sees the tall plant. The waitress was using a cognitive map to tell Jill how to get to the bathroom.
Once Jill came back from the bathroom, she asked Lisa about the new house that she and her husband purchased. Lisa was able to describe the layout of it in great detail, including where the bedrooms, kitchen, and dining rooms are, the structure of the basement, and where the porch wraps around the house. Lisa was able to describe her house using a cognitive map.
Lesson Summary
A cognitive map is a mental picture or image of the layout of one's physical environment. The term was first coined by a psychologist named Edward Tolman in the 1940s. Cognitive maps can help us navigate unfamiliar territory, give directions and learn or recall information. When we create cognitive maps, we often omit information that is irrelevant to the task at hand.
Friends Jill and Lisa were able to communicate several things through the use of cognitive maps. Jill gave Lisa directions on how to get to her house since Lisa was unfamiliar with the area. She had already created a mental image of the street names, businesses and landmarks along the way and was able to relate that information to Lisa. Also, Lisa was able to describe the layout of her new house and structure of the various rooms by using a cognitive map.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Register to view this lesson
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackCognitive Map: Definition and Examples
Related Study Materials
- Glencoe Understanding Psychology: Online Textbook Help
- Life Span Developmental Psychology: Homework Help Resource
- Abnormal Psychology for Teachers: Professional Development
- AP Psychology: Homeschool Curriculum
- Psychology 106: Abnormal Psychology
- Psychology 105: Research Methods in Psychology
- Social Psychology Textbook
- Stress Management in Psychology: Help & Review
- GRE Psychology: Study Guide & Test Prep
- Student Resources
- GACE Behavioral Science (550): Practice & Study Guide
- AEPA Early Childhood Education (AZ036): Practice & Study Guide
- NES School Counselor (501): Practice & Study Guide
- GACE School Psychology (605): Practice & Study Guide
- OSAT Early Childhood Education (CEOE) (205): Practice & Study Guide
Browse by Courses
- Pragmatic Language Impairment & ADHD
- Motor Planning Difficulties & Autism
- Apraxia & Motor Planning Issues
- Sound Sensitivity & Autism
- Narcissistic Rage & Injury: Definition, Symptoms & Examples
- The Wounded Storyteller by Arthur Frank: Summary & Quotes
- Relational Aggression Activities
- Healthy Ways to Deal with Aggression
- Malingering Disorder: Definition & Diagnosis
- Exposure Therapy for Phobias: Definition & Concept
- Feminist Therapy: Definition & Techniques
- Improving Doctor/Patient Communication Skills
- Doctor/Patient Confidentiality for Minors
- What Causes Sleepwalking in Children? - Symptoms & Treatment
- What Is Apraxia? - Definition & Treatment
Browse by Lessons
- TExES Science of Teaching Reading (293): Practice & Study Guide
- Next Gen NCLEX-PN Study Guide & Practice
- Next Gen NCLEX-RN Study Guide & Practice
- TExES Core Subjects EC-6 (391): Practice & Study Guide
- TExES School Counselor (252): Practice & Study Guide
- Teaching Vocabulary Acquisition
- The Changing Earth
- Power, Work and Energy
- States of Matter and Chemistry
- Legal and Ethical Issues in School Psychology
- How to Pick Your Homeschool Curriculum
- Role of Student Support in Open & Distance Learning
- TExES Principal Exam Redesign (068 vs. 268)
- Teacher Salary by State
- ESL Resource Guide for Teachers
- What is a Homeschool Co-op?
- How to Start Homeschooling Your Children
Latest Courses
- Mechanistic & Organic Organizational Business Structures
- Chemical Nomenclature & Notation
- Factors Impacting Family & Consumer Sciences
- Heritability Coefficient
- Entasis: Definition, Architecture & Architects
- Metaphors in A Tale of Two Cities
- What is Broadcast Journalism? - Definition & History
- What are Dinosaurs Related to? - Quiz & Worksheet for Kids
- Quiz & Worksheet - Memory Hole in 1984
- Quiz & Worksheet - Types of Personality Disorders
- Quiz & Worksheet - Common Health Problems in the US
- Flashcards - Real Estate Marketing Basics
- Flashcards - Promotional Marketing in Real Estate
- Math Worksheets | Printable Math Worksheets for Teachers
- Argumentative and Persuasive Essay Topics for Teachers
Latest Lessons
- DSST Substance Abuse: Study Guide & Test Prep
- 7th Grade US History: Enrichment Program
- MoGEA Writing Subtest (067): Practice & Study Guide
- Frankenstein Study Guide
- Ohio Assessments for Educators - Adolescence to Young Adult (7-12) APK (003): Practice & Study Guide
- Human Growth & Development in Adulthood
- SBA Math - Grade 7: Lines & Angles
- Quiz & Worksheet - Logical Thinking Process
- Quiz & Worksheet - Understanding Electronic Health Records
- Quiz & Worksheet - Promotion in the Marketing Mix
- Quiz & Worksheet - Minoan Civilization
- Quiz & Worksheet - Mesopotamian Kings
Popular Courses
- Sticky Prices: Definition, Theory & Model
- What is a Convex Polygon? - Definition & Examples
- How Long Does it Take to Learn French?
- What GPA Do Colleges Look At?
- 9/11 Activities & Information for Kids
- Georgia Alternative Teacher Certification
- In-School Resources for Teacher Professional Development
- Multiplication Lesson Plan
- Resources for Speech Education
- DRA Reading Assessment Levels
- How to Pass Online Classes
- FTCE Chemistry: Passing Score
Popular Lessons
Math
Social Sciences
Science
Business
Humanities
Education
History
Art and Design
Tech and Engineering
- Tech and Engineering - Videos
- Tech and Engineering - Quizzes
- Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers
Health and Medicine
- What do cognitive maps look for specifically in psychology?
- What does cognitive control mean in psychology?
- What is a cognitive map in psychology?
- What does cognitive map mean in psychology?
- What is a cognitive map?
- Define the cognitive map and how the concept relates to the explanation of conditioning (i.e., the relevance of reinforcement to learning).
- Define a cognitive map and how the concept relates to the explanation of conditioning (i.e. the relevance of reinforcement to learning).
- In the CIP Approach's CASVE model, the C stands for communication and refers to the importance of clients talking with the counselor about their career concerns. True False
- Edward Tolman studied rats running through mazes and found that
- How do cognitive maps and strategies affect learning?
Explore our library of over 84,000 lessons
- Create a Goal
- Create custom courses
- Get your questions answered