Ideas, Association of
From Encyclopediak
Ideas, Association of, the linking together of ideas, by the mind, in such close relationship that the thought of one recalls the other. The physiological basis of association is that when certain brain cells have once acted together, a connection is formed between them such that the activity of one is transmitted to the other and the two will again act together. The chances of such connection rather than any other depends upon the frequency of these cells acting together, the lateness of their connection, the intensity of stimulus in their first working together, the scarcity of other connections and the general condition of the brain at the time of receiving the impulse. The mental element of association is very similar. When two ideas have been experienced together, the reappearance of one tends to bring the other with it, depending, as before, upon the frequency of their association, the lateness of their connection, the intensity of the stimulation and the interest in the subject.
LAWS OF ASSOCIATION. The laws of association are four in number association by contiguity, by succession, by similarity, and by contrast. The first two depend upon the association at the time the connection was formed the last two depend upon the connection at the time of the recall. Association by contiguity refers to a relation established because two objects were perceived at the same time thus the odor of a certain flower recalls a certain person who wore it or an event at which these flowers were used. Association by similarity and association by contrast are much alike. The sight of a stranger recalls a friend whom he resembles and a hot day reminds us of the pleasures of a winter day. Association by contrast is primarily a modified association by similarity, since the two have some point of likeness. The establishment of right associations in youth is important, since, though the memory may be good, it acts through association, and, in the effort of recalling, association is the whole foundation. Association should be direct as far as possible, that is, by objects themselves rather than by pictures the word method of teaching reading is the product of the psychological knowledge that association should be both as direct and as simple as possible. Punishments and rewards to be of value should also be given with care. A punishment which follows an act at one time but which does not follow it at another is not closely associated with the act and so loses its value, just as the lesson would be lost upon us if we sometimes burned our hands upon the hot stove and sometimes did not. Our various homemade systems of recalling different things to our minds are common examples of associations which have an element of intellectuality. The pain following the touching of the stove gave us an association through the senses which needed no further links to connect it with the act, but when we connect the telephone number of a friend with the date of a battle, or the letter we are to mail with the string on our finger, we have established a connection as an aid where our senses might have failed us.
