Citation

Kline LW. J. Exp. Psychol. 1921; 4(4): 270-299.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1921, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0071479

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present investigation was initiated in an attempt to discover the extent to which different degrees of strength within a meaningful associative bond facilitate or inhibit the association of one member of that bond to a new element. The names of a state and its capital, e.g., were used as an original associative bond; that same state and a false capital furnished the components for a new association. Preliminary tests were conducted to determine the readiness of association between states and their capitals, and between works of literature and their authors. College and normal school students served as subjects.The results bear witness to the fact that, in general, associative inhibition operates adversely in learning meaningful material. The inhibitory effect is least when the strength of the original association is small. On the other hand, inhibition is also slight when the recall power of the connecting bonds ranges between 75 and 100 per cent. In some cases strong association may facilitate learning in new contexts. Where the recall power is between 45 and 70 per cent, strength of inhibition is greatest. Below 40 per cent, and above 15 per cent, strength of inhibition is relatively small. Neurologically inhibition would seem to depend upon the readiness of discharge of the nerve centers involved; very strong and very weak associations facilitate, whereas intermediate degrees of associative strength inhibit relearning of meaningful material. From Psych Bulletin 19:03:00197. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)