Psychology links associationism to the association of ideas.
Associationism is a current of psychology that emerged in Great Britain and that seeks to explain psychic issues based on the principles that govern the association of ideas . This theory, in short, reflects on how thoughts establish different kinds of combinations in the mind.
John Locke (1632–1704), de acuerdo a los postulados de Aristotle (384 BC–322 BC), aseguraba que los seres humanos nacen en blanco, sin ningún clase de habilidad innata o de aptitud natural. Sólo las experiencias que las personas viven con el paso del tiempo les permiten desarrollar ciertas representaciones, lo que quiere decir que las ideas no surgen a través del raciocinio.
Associationism according to psychology
According to experimental psychology , on the other hand, we speak of passive associationism to indicate how the mind acts as a reflection of the natural representations that give meaning to existence.
In this sense, it should be emphasized that within this aforementioned field of psychology, there are many schools that have addressed and supported, in one way or another, what associationism is. In this way, for example, one could highlight empiricist mentalistic psychology, behaviorism that is based on the stimulus-response union, connectionism that revolves around behavior and mental processes, or psychoanalysis that focuses on the free association of ideas as a therapeutic method.
David Hartley (1705–1757) y James Mill (1773–1836) también postularon que la conciencia es la consecuencia de la association law, que supone una vinculación de los elementos que se captan mediante los sentidos.
Associationism refers to how thoughts are combined in the mind.
A social movement
Associationism is, in another sense, a social movement that proposes the creation of political, civic and other associations to address issues of community interest.
At this time, precisely within what associationism is, we must highlight the boom experienced by that which takes place within what is youth. Thus, the different public organizations and administrations, both at the local, provincial or national level, encourage the union of young people to launch these aforementioned associations.
And thanks to these work groups, their members have it within their reach to actively participate in the society in which they live by making proposals, proposing projects that interest them or developing all types of actions that will improve. both their well-being and that of the rest of the citizens.
A sentence that could serve as an example of what we have stated last is the following: “The Madrid City Council encouraged associations among youth and got them to launch the Youth Cultural Association from which reading workshops are held, theatrical performances and concerts.
Finally, it should be noted that within the framework of social education , associationism is a postulate that maintains that the participation of citizens in public debate is the best way to modify reality and improve collective living conditions, since it allows pursue the common good.