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

The one-sidedness of the physiological sensory theories has been the hidden reason for the one-sidedness of associationism.

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

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

If the facts which cluster about attention cannot be understood by the simple scheme of associationism, the demand must be for a better physiological theory.

From Psychotherapy by Münsterberg, Hugo

By his development of the doctrine of apperception he took psychology forever beyond the old associationism which had ceased to be fruitful.

From A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis by Freud, Sigmund

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.