Definition

Noun: 1. A psychological theory of mental activity: In psychology, "association theory" is the theory that the fundamental principle or process of mental activity is the association of ideas. It posits that thoughts, memories, and ideas are linked together in the mind based on experience, such as similarity, contrast, or contiguity (occurring close together in time or space).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Early philosophers like Aristotle laid the groundwork for association theory by describing principles like contiguity and similarity.
  • The psychologist explained behavior using association theory, focusing on how learned connections between stimuli and responses shape actions.
  • Association theory was a dominant school of thought in the early development of experimental psychology.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The term is often used in historical discussions of psychology to refer to the work of thinkers like John Locke, David Hume, David Hartley, and the later school of Associationism. It contrasts with other theories like faculty psychology or Gestalt theory.
• "Laws of association": A core component of association theory, referring to the specific principles (e.g., law of contiguity, law of frequency) that govern how ideas become linked.

Variants and Related Words

• Associationism (n): Often used synonymously with "association theory" to denote the broader philosophical and psychological school of thought.
• Associative learning (n): A modern psychological concept derived from association theory, referring to learning that certain events occur together (e.g., classical and operant conditioning).

Synonyms

• Associationism
• Associative psychology (in historical contexts)

Related Phrases

• Principle of association: The core rule or concept within association theory.
• Laws of association: The specific, formalized rules (e.g., law of contiguity) proposed by the theory.

Noun

1. (psychology) a theory that association is the basic principle of mental activity