THORNDIKE'S CONNECTIONISM THEORY (LAWS OF LEARNING) 

THORNDIKE'S CONNECTIONISM THEORY (LAWS OF LEARNING) 

In Thorndike's view, learning is the process of forming associations or bonds, which he defined as "the connection of a certain act with a certain situation and resultant pleasure" The learning theory of Thorndike represents the original Stimulus- Response framework of behavioral psychology: Learning is the result of associations forming between stimuli and responses. 

CONNECTIONISM - was based on the concept, that elements or ideas become associated with one another through experience and that complex ideas can be explained through a set of simple rules. 

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

• Type of learning - The trial and error learning

• Connection - Stimulus-response connection, the basic unit of learning according to behaviorist learning theory.

• Stimulus - Stimulus can be an object effecting the senses or an idea/ thought. Its nature is purely individualistic that means it differ from organism to organism from time to time from situation to situation and from place to place

• Response - The Reaction is always in the form of Attraction or Repulsion. Response can be positive or negative, weak or strong, overt or hidden, right or wrong.

• Bond - Bond represents the connection in between the stimulus and response. It is denoted by (-)

• Strength of Connection - The strength of the connection depends upon the reaction time. (The time taken by an organism in giving response after receiving stimulus) the strength of the bond/ connection is inversely proportional to the reaction time. The less the reaction time the more will be the strength of the bond/ connection or vice-versa.

PRIMARY LAWS OF LEARNING

• Law of Readiness - The Law of Readiness means a person can learn when physically and mentally adjusted (ready) to receive stimuli, Individuals learn best when they are ready to learn, and they will not learn much if they see no reason for learning. 

• Law of Exercise - The Law of Exercise stresses the idea that repetition is basic to the development of adequate responses; things most often repeated are easiest remembered. The mind can rarely recall new concepts or practices after a single exposure, but every time it is practiced, learning continues and is enforced. 

• Law of Effect - This law involves the emotional reaction of the learner. Learning will always be much more effective when a fèeling of satisfaction, pleasantness, or reward accompanies or is a result of the learning process. Learning is strengthened when it is accompanied by a pleasant or satisfying feeling and that it is weakened when it is associated with an unpleasant experience. 

SECONDARY LAWS OF LEARNING

• Law of Primacy - This law states that the state of being first, often creates a strong, almost unshakeable impression. For the teacher, this means that what they teach the first time must be correct. If a subject is incorrectly taught, it must be corrected. 

• Law of Intensity -  The principle of intensity states that if the stimulus (experience) is real, the more likely there is to be a change in betavior (learning). 

• Law of Recency - Things most recently learned are best remembered, while the things learned some time ago are remembered with more difficulty.