Our consciousness exists as a huge system of ordered information, which is driven by external influences. However, the connections of the models of the surrounding world, formed according to bizarre laws, are by no means subordinate to standard logical laws. Connections in the human mind exist on the principle of individually significant “linkages” - associations. What is an association and is it really so illogical?
Old theory
The very concept of “association” appeared in the 17th century, in the works of John Locke, an Englishman, philosopher and researcher. He argued that connections in the human mind are formed according to three principles: similarity, contiguity and a causal relationship of facts. In principle, modern science has not contributed anything new to this theory. Some areas of the science of the mind, such as gestalt psychology, generally do not want to recognize the associativity of the mind, probably due to unpredictability.
Is memory lazy or economical?
What is cognitive cognition? If we closely analyze the associations of words, it can be noted that associations are most often formed by adjacency (in time and space). That is, simultaneously noticed things are often remembered together. Or simultaneously occurring events. Human memory is economical, therefore, it seeks to either connect the two phenomena with a causal relationship, or reduce everything to already seen patterns, or to relate the simultaneous existence of two things or phenomena.
What is visible in the spots?
Usually, the direction of building associations in human consciousness is associated with the dominant personality at the moment. That is, with what excites a person, it affects his consciousness. A test using Rorschach spots is based on this principle, it allows you to understand what a person mainly thinks about. The spots are very vague, a religious person can see an angel in one spot, and another person in the same spot - a picture of the murder. Psychologists who interpret this test know the techniques for working with associations. What is an association for them? No more than a working tool.
The environment decides a lot
Associations are closely related to the individual experience of a person, and therefore are very surprising, unpredictable. They are also associated with social experience. For example, in modern prayer books there is a phrase asking God to protect a person from "devilish obsession." Do you think that it’s a sin to rush? This is our association with the word “haste”. And for Old Russian man this phrase meant serving the enemy of the human race. Thus, associations also reflect the social experience of a person.
Is mother lazy? Baby is stupid
Many associations come from childhood. What is an association for a child? This is a unique piece of experience. The more information a child “digests” of various kinds, the richer his adult experience will be. And the more deep connections he can see between objects and phenomena. Therefore, you can not keep the baby in a cage or playpen all the time, his knowledge of the world should not be limited to television. Make the baby’s world bright and diverse so that his future is not spoiled by the fact that his mother was too lazy to deal with the baby, leaving him for half a day in the playpen.