Association (psychology)
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| [[Image:Sign and signifier as imagined by de Saussure.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Signified]] ([[concept]]) and [[signifier]] ([[sound-image]]) as imagined by [[Ferdinand de Saussure|de Saussure]]]] | [[Image:Sign and signifier as imagined by de Saussure.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Signified]] ([[concept]]) and [[signifier]] ([[sound-image]]) as imagined by [[Ferdinand de Saussure|de Saussure]]]] | ||
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| + | "The [[human mind]] . . . operates by [[Association (psychology)|association]]. With one item in its grasp, it snaps instantly to the next that is suggested by the association of thoughts, in accordance with some intricate [[web]] of trails carried by the cells of the brain." Vannevar Bush, ''[[As We May Think]]'' (1945) | ||
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| - | In [[psychology]] and [[marketing]], two concepts or [[Stimulus|stimuli]] are '''associated''' when the experience of one leads to the effects of another, due to repeated pairing. This is sometimes called '''Pavlovian association''' for [[Ivan Pavlov]]'s pioneering of [[classical conditioning]]. | + | '''Association''' in [[psychology]] refers to a [[connection]] between [[concept]]s or [[mental state]]s that results from the [[similarity]] between those states or their [[proximity]] in space or time. The idea stems from [[Plato]] and [[Aristotle]], especially with regard to the succession of memories, and it was carried on by philosophers such as [[John Locke]], [[David Hume]], [[David Hartley (philosopher)|David Hartley]], [[James Mill]], [[John Stuart Mill]], and [[Alexander Bain]]. It finds its place in modern psychology in such areas as [[classical conditioning|conditioning]] and in [[neural network]] models of memory. |
| - | Association is a widely used [[Method of loci|memory tool]]. Associating a new item (an object, a picture, a smell or anything else a person may wish to recall) to another, more easily-remembered item can allow you to think of them both. | + | ==Overview== |
| + | The following discussion assumes the point of view of [[associationism|associationistic theory]]. Some modern theorists disagree with this approach; they argue that it is very misleading to try to understand mental or brain function as a network of associations . | ||
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| + | ===Memory=== | ||
| + | [[Memory]] seems to operate as a chain of associations: concepts, words and ideas are interlinked, so that stimuli such as a person’s face will call up the associated name. Understanding the relationships between different items is fundamental to episodic memory, and damage to the hippocampal region of the brain has been found to hinder learning of associations between objects. | ||
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| + | ===Pavlovian/Classical conditioning=== | ||
| + | [[Classical conditioning]] is an example of associationistic learning. In his famous experiment, Pavlov paired the sound of a bell with food, and later the dog salivated to the bell alone, indicating that an association had been established between the bell and food. | ||
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| + | ===Operant conditioning=== | ||
| + | In [[operant conditioning]] behaviors increase in strength and/or frequency when they have been followed by reward. This is theorized to follow from an association between the behavior and a mental representation of the reward (such as food). | ||
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| + | ===Implicit association=== | ||
| + | Associations in humans can be measured with the [[Implicit Association Test]], a psychological test which measures the implicit (subconscious) relation between two concepts. It has been used in investigations of subconscious racial bias. The test measures the associations between different ideas, such as race and crime. Reaction time is used to distinguish associations; faster reaction time is an indicator of a stronger association. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | *[[Association]] | + | * [[Association]] |
| - | *[[Associationism]] | + | * [[Association of Ideas]] |
| - | *[[Association of Ideas]] | + | * [[Associationism]] |
| - | *[[Conditioning]] | + | * [[Conditioning]] |
| + | * [[Understanding|Comprehension]] | ||
| + | * [[Classical conditioning|Conditioning]] | ||
| + | * [[Halo effect]] | ||
| + | * [[Pair by association]] | ||
| + | * [[Memory]] | ||
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Revision as of 20:20, 23 June 2014
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"The human mind . . . operates by association. With one item in its grasp, it snaps instantly to the next that is suggested by the association of thoughts, in accordance with some intricate web of trails carried by the cells of the brain." Vannevar Bush, As We May Think (1945) |
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Association in psychology refers to a connection between concepts or mental states that results from the similarity between those states or their proximity in space or time. The idea stems from Plato and Aristotle, especially with regard to the succession of memories, and it was carried on by philosophers such as John Locke, David Hume, David Hartley, James Mill, John Stuart Mill, and Alexander Bain. It finds its place in modern psychology in such areas as conditioning and in neural network models of memory.
Contents |
Overview
The following discussion assumes the point of view of associationistic theory. Some modern theorists disagree with this approach; they argue that it is very misleading to try to understand mental or brain function as a network of associations .
Memory
Memory seems to operate as a chain of associations: concepts, words and ideas are interlinked, so that stimuli such as a person’s face will call up the associated name. Understanding the relationships between different items is fundamental to episodic memory, and damage to the hippocampal region of the brain has been found to hinder learning of associations between objects.
Pavlovian/Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is an example of associationistic learning. In his famous experiment, Pavlov paired the sound of a bell with food, and later the dog salivated to the bell alone, indicating that an association had been established between the bell and food.
Operant conditioning
In operant conditioning behaviors increase in strength and/or frequency when they have been followed by reward. This is theorized to follow from an association between the behavior and a mental representation of the reward (such as food).
Implicit association
Associations in humans can be measured with the Implicit Association Test, a psychological test which measures the implicit (subconscious) relation between two concepts. It has been used in investigations of subconscious racial bias. The test measures the associations between different ideas, such as race and crime. Reaction time is used to distinguish associations; faster reaction time is an indicator of a stronger association.
See also
- Association
- Association of Ideas
- Associationism
- Conditioning
- Comprehension
- Conditioning
- Halo effect
- Pair by association
- Memory
