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learning_theories:connectionism [2011/02/28 13:07] jpetrovic [What is connectionism?] |
learning_theories:connectionism [2011/02/28 13:08] jpetrovic [What is connectionism?] |
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[[http://historyofpsych.blogspot.com/2010/01/american-behaviorism.html|{{ images:thorndikes_cat.jpg|Thorndike's cat experiment. Image borrowed from: History of Psychology: American Behaviorism. Click on the picture to follow the link. }}]] | [[http://historyofpsych.blogspot.com/2010/01/american-behaviorism.html|{{ images:thorndikes_cat.jpg|Thorndike's cat experiment. Image borrowed from: History of Psychology: American Behaviorism. Click on the picture to follow the link. }}]] | ||
- | At the very end of 19th century Thorndike performed experiments first on chickens and later on cats and dogs. In one experiment he placed a hungry cat inside a //puzzle box//, which had a mechanism that would open the doors of the box every time a string would be pulled or a button pushed. Behavior which resulted in opening the doors was slowly increased as the cat after each successful attempt to open the door needed a bit less time to repeat the same action after being put back into the box. Based on this experiment Thorndike concluded that learning is **incremental** and **not [[glossary#insightful_learning|insightful]]**, since the learning of the correct response occurred only through repetition //trial and error// forming of associations between situation and response. Established connections or knowledge, according to Thorndike also cause and determine intelligence. | + | At the very end of 19th century Thorndike performed experiments first on chickens and later on cats and dogs. In one experiment he placed a hungry cat inside a //puzzle box//, which had a mechanism that would open the doors of the box every time a string would be pulled or a button pushed. Behavior which resulted in opening the doors was slowly increased as the cat after each successful attempt to open the door needed a bit less time to repeat the same action after being put back into the box. Based on this experiment Thorndike concluded that learning is **incremental** and **not [[:glossary#insightful_learning|insightful]]**, since the learning of the correct response occurred only through repetition //trial and error// forming of associations between situation and response. Established connections or knowledge, according to Thorndike also cause and determine intelligence. |
To explain observed properties of learning, Thorndike introduced three laws of learning. The first law is the **//law of exercise or use or frequency//**, which states that **stimulus-response** (S-R) **associations** are **strengthened through repetition** or weakened through lack of repetition. His second law, **//law of effect//**, states that the consequence or **outcome** of a situation-response event **can strengthen or weaken** the **connection** between situation and response. If an event is followed by a reinforcing stimulus, the connection will be strengthened and vice versa. The third law, **//law of readiness//**, which claims learning is facilitated by learner's readiness (emotional and motivational) to learn. This potential to learn leads to frustration if not satisfied. | To explain observed properties of learning, Thorndike introduced three laws of learning. The first law is the **//law of exercise or use or frequency//**, which states that **stimulus-response** (S-R) **associations** are **strengthened through repetition** or weakened through lack of repetition. His second law, **//law of effect//**, states that the consequence or **outcome** of a situation-response event **can strengthen or weaken** the **connection** between situation and response. If an event is followed by a reinforcing stimulus, the connection will be strengthened and vice versa. The third law, **//law of readiness//**, which claims learning is facilitated by learner's readiness (emotional and motivational) to learn. This potential to learn leads to frustration if not satisfied. |