Connectionism Theory

1. CONNECTIONISM
THEORY
(Edward Thorndike)
By: ROMMEL LUIS. C. ISRAEL III

2. EDWARD THORNDIKE
• American psychologist
• Born on 31st August 1874 in
Massachusetts, United States
• He worked on animal behavior
• Proposed the theory on
connectionism.
• His theory on learned behavior
is formed on the basis of
operant conditioning and
classical conditioning.
Reference: Edward Thorndike. (2014). FamousPsychologists.org. Retrieved 04:07, February 29,
2020 from https://www.famouspsychologists.org/edward-thorndike/

3. CONNECTIONISM THEORY
• It is based on the ideas presented by
associationism
• Thorndike hypothesis:
- Certain elements become
associated
though a similar experience and
that
more complex ideas can be taught
or
explained through a series of
simplified
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

4. THORNDIKE’s LEARNING LAWS
1. Law of effect
2. Law of Readiness
3. Law of exercise
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

5. LAW OF EFFECT
• An individual's response to a specific
situation followed by a reward will
eventually make those responses
stronger.
- Therefore, the responses become
habits
when the individual is presented
with that
particular situation again.
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

6. LAW OF EFFECT
•Additionally, if a response deters
an individual from achieving a
reward, or a “rewarding state”,
then this response becomes
weaker.
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

7. LAW OF READINESS
•A series or a set of responses
can be linked together in order to
achieve a goal
- If the person is prevented
from
achieving this goal, this
willReference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

8. LAW OF EXERCISE
•Frequently made associations
become strengthened
•Likewise, rare or sporadic
associations become weaker.
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

9. THORNDIKE’s ADDITIONAL LAWS
AND PRINCIPLES
1. Multiple responses
2. Set of attitudes
3. Prepotency of elements
4. Response by analogy
5. Associative shifting
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

10. MULTIPLE RESPONSES
•In any given situation, an
individual might react in a variety
of ways if the initial reaction does
not immediately lead to a
satisfying result.
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

11. SET OF ATTITUDES
•Individuals are inclined to react
in a particular way
- These reactions are unique
for
species or groups of
related
species.
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

12. PREPOTENCY OF ELEMENTS
•Individuals are able to filter out
any irrelevant aspects of a
particular situation and respond
only to significant parameters
that directly affect this situation.
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

13. RESPONSE BY ANALOGY
•Reactions from a previously
experienced situation might be
transferred to a new one
- This is also called Theory
of
Identical Elements.
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

14. ASSOCIATIVE SHIFTING
•Sometimes, a reaction to a
certain stimulus might shift to
a different one.
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

15. 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF
CONNECTIONISM THEORY
1.Learning involves both practice
and a reward system (based
upon the law of effect).
2.Stimulus and response
associations can be linked if
they are part of the same “action
sequence” (based upon the law
of readiness).Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

16. 4 KEY PRINCIPLES OF
CONNECTIONISM THEORY
3. The transfer of knowledge and
learning is based on situations
that have been previously
experienced by the individual
4. Intelligence is determined by
how many of these associations
have been learned and/or
acquired
Reference: Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories: Connectionism Theory. Retrieved
February 29, 2020, from https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.

17. WHAT IS THE PRACTICAL MEANING
OF CONNECTIONISM?
Rewards promote learning, but
punishments do not lead to
learning
Repetition enhances learning
Potential to learn needs to be
satisfied.
Reference: Connectionism. (2013). Retrieved February 29, 2020, from https://www.learning-
theories.org/doku.php?id=learning_theories:connectionism.

18. REFERENCES
Edward Thorndike. (2014). FamousPsychologists.org. Retrieved 04:07, February
29, 2020 from https://www.famouspsychologists.org/edward-thorndike/
Pappas, Christopher (2015). Instructional Design Models And Theories:
Connectionism Theory. Retrieved February 29, 2020, from
https://elearningindustry.com/connectionism.
Connectionism. (2013). Retrieved February 29, 2020, from
https://www.learning-
theories.org/doku.php?id=learning_theories:connectionism.