Transcript Contiguity Theory

Contiguity
Theory
Edwin Guthrie
"a combination of stimuli
which has accompanied a
movement will on its
recurrence tend to be
followed by that
movement".
–Guthrie (1952)
According to contiguity theory:
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all learning is based on a stimulus-response
association
each stimulus-response combination
produces a small movement.
these movements make up an act
a learned behavior is a series of movements.
it takes time for the movements to develop
into an act.
behavior involves repetition of movements
According to
contiguity theory,
what is learned are
movements, not
behaviors
Movement & Learning
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Learnt movements are minute responses
made by the muscles and are based on
stimulus response associations.
A learned behavior (act) is based on a
number of learnt movements put together.
How did Guthrie know?
What do we learn from
Guthrie’s experiment?
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The Guthrie’s experiment tells us that an
animal learns an association between a
stimulus and a behavioral act after only
one experience.
Numerous trials are not duplications, but
learning to respond to similar stimulus
complexes. Only after we form several
associations can the behaviour be learnt.
What about forgetting?
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Contiguity theory implies that forgetting
occurs when one habit prevents another
due to some stronger stimuli.
Guthrie stated that forgetting is due to
interference because the stimuli become
associated with new responses
Principles of contiguity theory
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In order for conditioning to occur, the organism
must actively respond (i.e., do things).
Since learning involves the conditioning of specific
movements, instruction must present very specific
tasks.
Exposure to many variations in stimulus patterns is
desirable in order to produce a generalized
response.
The last response in a learning situation should be
correct since it is the one that will be associated.
Educational Implications
"We learn only what
we ourselves do"
Problems with Contiguity Theory
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If learning is immediate and one-trial, why
are learning curves gradual?