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Glite Dictionary
association theory

association theory

7.0
The idea that the mind works by linking ideas or past experiences
  • noun
  • /əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən ˈθɪəri/
  • Formal
translation icon : teoría de la asociación
  • In psychology, association theory explains how our memories and experiences are linked through related concepts.

Examples

  • According to association theory, understanding a new concept is easier when it is related to familiar experiences.

  • The association theory suggests that we learn new information by connecting it to ideas we already know.

  • DEVIANT BEHAVIOR focuses on the sociological theories of deviant behavior such as strain theory, differential association theory, labeling theory, and phenomenological theory.

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Synonyms

associationism
vsassociation theory
  • Formal
9.9

A theory that thoughts form by linking ideas and past experiences

has identical meaning but presents it as a single-word theoretical label

Surface Forms

association theory singular
association theories plural

Morphology

association + theory

The meaning is compositionally built from 'association' (linking of ideas) + 'theory' (a set of ideas explaining phenomena), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a theory about associations. This is a literal, cross-linguistically common noun phrase structure and therefore immediately understandable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Association theory comes from the simple image of ideas as beads on a string or train cars hooked together: when one bead or car moves, the next one follows. The name joins association (a link) and theory (an idea about how something works), so it explains why 'association theory' means the mind makes links between ideas and experiences.