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Connectivist-Theory

Edward L. Thorndike was a pioneering psychologist in educational psychology known for his Law of Effect and Connectionism Theory, which emphasizes learning through stimulus-response connections. His work laid the foundation for modern behaviorism and influenced various aspects of education and intelligence testing. Despite its contributions, Connectionism faces criticisms for its inability to explain sudden learning leaps, innate language abilities, and complex grammar acquisition.

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Daniela Nicole Bustamante
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53 views

Connectivist-Theory

Edward L. Thorndike was a pioneering psychologist in educational psychology known for his Law of Effect and Connectionism Theory, which emphasizes learning through stimulus-response connections. His work laid the foundation for modern behaviorism and influenced various aspects of education and intelligence testing. Despite its contributions, Connectionism faces criticisms for its inability to explain sudden learning leaps, innate language abilities, and complex grammar acquisition.

Uploaded by

Daniela Nicole Bustamante
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Edward L.

Thorndike: Pioneer of Educational Psychology

Edward L. Thorndike (1874–1949) was an American psychologist known for his contributions to
educational psychology. Born in Williamsburg, Massachusetts, he studied at The Roxbury Latin
School and Wesleyan University before making groundbreaking discoveries in learning and
behavior.

Thorndike’s Law of Effect states that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are reinforced,
while those with negative outcomes are discouraged. His Connectionism Theory explains
learning as forming stimulus-response (S-R) connections, strengthening habits through
repetition. His research, especially with animals, laid the groundwork for modern behaviorism.

His work influenced intelligence testing, instructional design, and education reform. Thorndike
remained dedicated to research until his death on August 9, 1949, in Montrose, New York,
leaving a lasting impact on psychology and education.

Connectionist Theory

Edward Thorndike’s Connectionism Theory is built on the foundation that learning is the result of
associations forming between stimuli and responses. These associations or “habits” become
strengthened or weakened by the nature and frequency of the stimulus-response pairings.
Mental phenomena is attributed to synaptic and neural activity whereby information is
processed through patterns of activation spreading. This means that when information enters
your brain, neurons begin to activate, forming a specific pattern than produces a specific output,
forming networks between neurons.

Thorndike outlined that learning has taken place when a strong connection between stimulus
and response is formed and he came up with three primary laws for this:

Law of Effect

The law of effect emphasises that habit formation is controlled by rewards. A connection
between a stimulus and response is strengthened when the consequence is positive and
weakened when the consequences negative.

Law of Exercise

The law of exercise outlines that the more a stimulus-response bond is practiced, the stronger it
will become.
Law of Readiness

The law of readiness states that the more readiness the learner has to respond to the stimulus,
the stronger the bond will be between them.

Key points of Connectionist theory:

It explains how we learn through patterns.


Instead of memorizing rules, connectionism suggests that we pick up language by recognizing
patterns in what we hear and read. This matches how kids learn their first language and how we
improve with practice.

It accounts for gradual learning.


Unlike theories that we assume we learn in set stages, connectionism explains how language
develops little by little as we get more exposure and practice. Mistakes are just part of the
process.

It connects language learning to the brain’s natural processes.


Since the brain constantly forms and strengthens connections, this theory makes sense. The
more we use a language, the stronger those connections become.

Key criticisms of Connectionist theory include:

It struggles to explain sudden learning jumps.


Sometimes, learners make big leaps in understanding—like when a child suddenly starts
forming full sentences. Connectionism, which focuses on gradual learning, doesn’t fully explain
these breakthroughs.

It overlooks the role of innate abilities.


Some researchers argue that humans are born with a special ability to learn language (like
Chomsky’s Universal Grammar). Connectionism, on the other hand, says it’s all about exposure
and practice, which might not tell the full story.

It doesn’t fully explain complex grammar.


While the theory does a good job with basic language patterns, it struggles to explain how
learners pick up more advanced grammar rules, especially when they aren’t always consistent
or logical.

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