Associationism

Associationism

Associationism

Mental processes operate by the association of ideas.

Suggests that the human mind is structured by associative processes, where thoughts and memories are linked together through experience

Associative learning

Occurs when a connection or association is formed between two stimuli or between a behavior and a stimulus

Classical conditioning

A type of associative learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a significant stimulus, eliciting a conditioned response

Ivan Pavlov

Proponent of Classical Conditioning

Applications of Classical Conditioning

Understanding phobias and developing treatments

Marketing and advertising strategies

Education and behavior modification techniques

Edwin Ray Guthrie

An American psychologist known for his contiguity theory of learning.

One-Trial Learning

Learning occurs in a single pairing of a stimulus and response. Repetition strengthens the bond, but the association can be formed in just one trial

Law of Contiguity

The only condition necessary for the association of stimuli and responses is that they occur close together in time

Breaking Habits

A new response must be associated with the stimulus that triggers the undesired behavior

Recency and Threshold Principle

Guthrie’s Principles of Learning

Recency Principle

The most recent response to a specific stimulus will likely recur when that stimulus is encountered again.

Threshold Principle

Learning occurs when the stimulus and response are weak enough to not trigger the undesired habit but strong enough to form a new association