CONNECTIONISM THEORY

Edward Lee Thorndike (1874-1949)

- an American pioneer in comparative psychology, was born - Thorndike spent one year at the College for Women of Case
in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1874 to the family of a Methodist Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio.
minister. - Then he became an instructor in psychology at Teachers
- He became interested in the field of psychology after reading College at Columbia University, studying human learning,
William James' "Principles of Psychology" and after education, and mental testing. He remained at Columbia the
graduating from Wesleyan University, he enrolled at rest of his career.
Harvard in order to study under James (1895–1897).
- Edward L. Thorndike's pioneer investigations in the fields
BIOGRAPHY of human and animal learning are among the most influential
- Born August 31, 1874 in Williamsburg, Massachusetts. in the history of Psychology. In 1912, he was recognized for
- Died on August 9, 1949. his accomplishments and elected president of the American
- He completed his Ph.D Psychological Association.
- In 1898 in Columbia University, he was awarded the
doctorate for his thesis, "Animal Intelligence: An - In 1934, the American Association for the Advancement of
Experimental Study of the Associative Processes in Science elected Thorndike as the only social scientist to head
Animals", in which he concluded that an experimental this professional organization.
approach is the only way to understand learning and
established his famous "Law of Effect”.
- Thorndike retired in 1939, but worked actively until his means a preparation of action. If one is not prepared to learn,
death in 1949. His work was a major influence on learning cannot be automatically instilled in him, for
B.F.Skinner. (Lefrancois, 1972) Kearsley, G. (n.d.) example, unless the typist, in order to learn typing prepares
himself to start, he would not make much progress in a
The learning theory of Thorndike represents the original S- R lethargic & unprepared manner.
framework of behavioral psychology: Learning is the result
of associations forming between stimuli and responses. Such LAW OF EXERCISE
associations or "habits" become strengthened or weakened by The law of exercise had two parts: (a) the law of use and (b)
the nature and frequency of the S-R pairings. The paradigm the law of disuse. This law stated that connections grow
for S-R theory was trial and error learning in which certain stronger when used—where strength is defined as “vigor and
responses come to dominate others due to rewards. The duration as well as the frequency of its making”—and grow
hallmark of connectionism (like all behavioral theory) was weaker when not used.
that learning could be adequately explained without referring
to any unobservable internal states. Many examples of this case are found in case of human
learning. Learning to drive a motor-car, typewriting, singing
THREE LAWS OF LEARNING: or memorizing a poem or a mathematical table, and music
etc. need exercise and repetition of various movements and
LAW OF READINESS actions many times.
First primary law of learning, according to him, is the ‘Law
of Readiness’ or the ‘Law of Action Tendency’, which means
that learning takes place when an action tendency is aroused
through preparatory adjustment, set or attitude. Readiness LAW OF EFFECT
which states that responses which occur just prior to a -- If the individual wants to solve a puzzle, he is to try in
satisfying state of affairs are more likely to be repeated, and different ways rather than mechanically persisting in the
responses just prior to an annoying state of affairs are more same way. Thorndike’s cat in the puzzle box moved about
likely NOT to be repeated. The second contribution was his and tried many ways to come out till finally it hit the latch
rejection of the notion that man is simply another animal that with her paw which opened the door and it jumped out.
can reason. He believed intelligence should be defined solely
in terms of greater or lesser ability to form connections. 2. Set or attitude –Learning is guided by a total set or attitude
of the organism, which determines not only what the person
Thorndike’s Puzzle-Box will do but what will satisfy or annoy him. For instance,
The situation involves not just the cat’s location but also the unless the cricketer sets himself to make a century, he will not
stimuli it is exposed to, for example, the hunger and the desire be able to score more runs. A student, similarly, unless he sets
for freedom. The cat recognizes the inside of the box, the to get first position and has the attitude of being at the top,
bars, and the lever and remembers what it needs to do to would while away the time and would not learn much.
produce the correct response. Hence, learning is affected more in the individual if he is set
to learn more or to excel.
ADDITIONAL LAWS AND PRINCIPLES OF
THORNDIKE'S LEARNING THEORY 3. Partial activity or prepotency of elements – According to
this law, the learner reacts selectively to the important or
1. Multiple response or varied reaction – When faced with a essential in the situation and neglects the other features or
problem an animal will try one response after another until it elements which may be irrelevant or non- essential. The
finds success. (Trial and Error) ability to deal with the essential or the relevant part of the
situation, makes analytical and insightful learning possible.
In this law of pre-potency of elements, Thorndike is really the overall command of ‘stand up’ was found sufficient to
anticipating insight in learning which was more emphasized evoke the response in the cat by standing up or her hind legs.
by the Gestations.
IMPLICATIONS
4. Law of Response by Analogy- According to this law, the 1) According to this theory the task can be started from the
individual makes use of old experiences or acquisitions while easier aspect towards its difficult side. This approach will
learning a new situation. There is a tendency to utilize benefit the weaker and backward children.
common elements in the new situation as existed in a similar 2) A small child learns some skills through trial-and-error
past situation. The learning of driving a car, for instance, is method only such as sitting, standing, walking, running etc.
facilitated by the earlier acquired skill of driving a motor cycle In teaching also, the child rectifies the writing after
or even riding a bicycle because the perspective or committing mistakes.
maintaining a balance and controlling the handle helps in 3) In this theory more emphasis has been laid on motivation.
steering the car Thus, before starting teaching in the classroom the students
should be properly motivated.
5.The Law of Associative Shifting- According to this law we 4) Practice leads a man towards maturity. Practice is the main
may get a response, of which a learner is capable, associated feature of trial-and-error method. Practice helps in reducing
with any other situation to which he is sensitive. Thorndike the errors committed by the child in learning any concept.
illustrated this by the act of teaching a cat to stand up at a 5) Habits are formed as a result of repetition. With the help
command. A fish was dangled before the cat while he said of this theory the wrong habits of the children can be
‘stand up’. After a number trails by presenting the fish after modified and the good habits strengthened.
uttering the command ‘stand up’, he later ousted the fish and
6) The effects of rewards and punishment also affect the
learning of the child. Thus, the theory lays emphasis on the
use of reward and punishment in the class by the teacher.
7) The theory may be found quite helpful in changing the
behavior of the delinquent children. The teacher should cure
such children making use of this theory.
8) With the help of this theory the teacher can control the
negative emotions of the children such as anger, jealousy etc.
9) The teacher can improve his teaching methods making use
of this theory. He must observe the effects of his teaching
methods on the students and should not hesitate to make
necessary changes in them, if required.
10) The theory pays more emphasis on oral drill work.
Thus, a teacher should conduct oral drill of the taught
contents. This help in strengthening the learning more.