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Glite Dictionary
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associationist

associationist

9.3
Relating to the idea that thoughts form by linking ideas
  • adjective
  • /əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃənɪst/
  • Specialized
translation icon : asociacionista
  • In psychology class, we studied the associationist approach to understanding human behavior.

Examples

  • The authors viewed learning in the associationist tradition as suited only to totalitarian nations; in a democratic society, open inquiry in a cooperative setting is needed.

    Academic text (1990)

  • According to the associationist theory, memories are triggered by related concepts.

  • The associationist perspective emphasizes how our ideas connect and influence each other.

Synonyms

associative
vsassociationist
  • Specialized
6 5.8

About how the mind links ideas and memories

focuses on the formal theory of mental ideas connecting over time
associational
vsassociationist
  • Formal
1 8.5

Relating to groups like clubs and to how ideas connect in the mind

is about the specific theory that mental processes join ideas
associatory
vsassociationist
  • Specialized
9.6

Linking ideas or memories in the mind

emphasizes the scientific doctrine rather than mere outcomes of connections

Surface Forms

associationist positive

Morphology

associationist = association (transparent) = association + ist

The suffix '-ist' productively forms an adherent or adjective from 'association', so the sense is directly predictable from the base.

Etymology

Associationist The adjective associationist comes from association (from an old Latin idea meaning 'to join together') and the ending -ist meaning 'one who follows'. It describes views that see the mind as working by linking ideas together, so it means 'relating to' that idea-linking approach.