associationism

American  

[uh-soh-see-ey-shuh-niz-uhm, -shee-ey-] / əˌsoʊ siˈeɪ ʃəˌnɪz əm, -ʃiˈeɪ- /

noun

1. Psychology. any of several theories that explain complex psychological phenomena as being built up from the association of simple sensations, stimuli and responses, or other behavioral or mental elements considered as primary.

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associationism British  

/ əˌsəʊsɪˈeɪʃəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. psychol a theory that all mental activity is based on connections between basic mental events, such as sensations and feelings

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Other Word Forms

• associationist adjective
• associationistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of associationism

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; association + -ism

Example Sentences

French sensualism shows itself quite incapable of understanding aesthetic production, and the associationism of David Hume is not more fortunate in this respect.

From Aesthetic as Science of Expression and General Linguistic by Croce, Benedetto

The whole theory of physiological associationism works evidently with two factors.

From Psychotherapy by Münsterberg, Hugo

The antithesis is also misinterpreted, or at least wrongly narrowed, if it is called voluntarism versus associationism.

From Harvard Psychological Studies, Volume 1 Containing Sixteen Experimental Investigations from the Harvard Psychological Laboratory. by Münsterberg, Hugo

This notion that associationism leads away from the work of art as such is a perceptive comment.

From An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Taste, and of the Origin of our Ideas of Beauty, etc. by Clifford, James L.

In his teens Mill was an able debater and writer for the quarterlies, and devoted to the propagation of the theories of Bentham, Ricardo, and associationism.

From Youth: Its Education, Regimen, and Hygiene by Hall, G. Stanley