Thorndike Connectionism Theory Edward L. Thorndike 1841 - 1949 • was born in August 31, 1874

1. CONNECTIONISM THEORY
Thorndike's
Alcantara & bergado
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2. American psychologist
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THORNDIKE
Edward L.
was born in August 31, 1874 and
died in August 9, 1949
Proposed a theory that lead to
the development of operant
conditioning within behaviorism.
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1874 - 1949

3. EDWARD THORNDIKE
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Gave the original S - R framework of behavioral
psychology.
Wrote a book entitled, "Educational Psychology."
Learning is the result of associations forming
between Stimuli (S) and Responses (R).
Habits become strengthened or weakened by the
nature of frequency and nature of S - R pairings.
S - R theory was a trial and error learning.
Learning could be adequately explained without
observing any unobservable internal states.

4. CONNECTIONISM
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Theory Of
Learning has taken a place when a strong connection or bond between stimulus and
response is formed.
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5. PRED05E
CONNECTIONISM
Three Laws
It is said that the Connectionism Theory has three primary laws:
Effect Exercise Readiness
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CONNECTIONISM THEORY

6. LAW OF EFFECT
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The connection between a stimulus and response
is strengthened when the consequence is
positive.
The connection between a stimulus and response
is weakened when the consequence is negative.
Later on, this "law" when it was found out that
negative rewards do not necessarily weaken
bonds.
Some pleasurable consequences do not
necessarily motivate performance.

7. LAW OF EXERCISE
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The more that an S - R bond is practiced, the
stronger it will become.
"Practice makes perfect."
This was also revised when Thorndike found out
that practice without feedback does not
necessarily enhance performance.

8. LAW OF READINESS
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The more the readiness the learner has to
respond to the stimulus, the stronger will be the
bond between them.
When a person is ready to respond to a stimulus
and is not made to respond, it becomes annoying
to a person.
If the person is not at all ready to respond to
stimuli and is asked to respond, that becomes
annoying.

9. PRINCIPLES DERIVED FROM CONNECTIONISM
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Learning requires both practice and rewards
A series of S-R connections can be chained together if they belong to the same
action sequence.
Transfer of learning occurs because of previously encountered situations.
Intelligence is a function of the number of connections learned.

10. REFERENCES
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Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2022, September 2). Edward L. Thorndike.
Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-L-
Thorndike
Mcleod, S. (2018). Edward Thorndike - Law of Effect | Simply Psychology.
Simplypsychology.org. https://www.simplypsychology.org/edward-
thorndike.html