Contiguity theory

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The contiguity theory is a behavioristic learning theory . It was developed by Edwin Guthrie and 1935 in his book The Psychology of Learning ( The psychology of learning ) published.

Guthrie assumes that behavior (movement) associated with a combination of stimuli will be repeated if those stimuli reappear. In his opinion, behavior is learned immediately ( one-trial learning ), repetitions are irrelevant, they merely consolidate what has been learned by developing habits. For learning, according to Guthrie, only the temporal coincidence of stimulus and reaction, which is referred to as contiguity , is important.

Until 1966, contiguity was a fundamental principle of classical conditioning . Rescorla and Garcia suggested that spatial or temporal proximity of two events alone is not sufficient to serve as a basis for the formation of associations (CR). Rather, only those stimuli are the trigger of a conditioned reaction, which also reliably, i.e. with a high probability, best predict the unconditioned stimulus. So nausea is more likely to stimuli such as smell, taste or food associated than with visual or auditory stimuli. The concept of contingency was developed, which relates two probabilities:

In this context there is also the concept of preparedness (“readiness”), which plays a role especially in the classical conditioning (learning theory) of fear . This concept was developed by Martin Seligman , who postulates that certain connections of stimuli can be learned faster and more stably (more resistant to extinction ) due to their evolutionary importance for survival (snake → danger etc.) . From a phylogenetic point of view, it is important to learn quickly and stably in response to certain stimuli, e.g. B. Perform avoidance behavior.

Individual evidence

  1. en: Edwin Ray Guthrie (1886–1959)
  2. ^ Sandra Winkel, Franz Petermann, Ulrike Petermann: Lernpsychologie. University paperback. Schoningh, Paderborn 2006, ISBN 3-8252-2817-7 , p. 95 ff.
  3. ^ BR Hergenhahn: An Introduction to the History of Psychology. Cengage Learning, 2009, ISBN 0-4955-0621-4 , p. 438 ff.
  4. ^ MEP Seligman: On the generality of the laws of learning. Psychological review, 77, 1970, pp. 406-418.
  5. Hans Reinecker: Basics of behavior therapy. Beltz Verlag, 2005, ISBN 3-621-27566-5 .