Early 1900s: Associationists explained problem-solving in terms of finding and strengthening stimulus-response patterns which would deliver solutions (or not): reproductive solutions.

In these problems, people were required to reproduce and possibly modify a solution to a previous task. Thorndike (1911), for example, developed the puzzle box, a small cage with many levels and pulleys, that could only be opened by pushing the correct level or pulling the right string attached to a pulley. Thorndike observed how hungry cats learnt to escape such boxes, and argued from this behaviour that problem solving involved the application of "habit families". A habit family was a set of responses available to an individual in a given situation. Habits within a family were argued initially to be tried randomly, but learning was held to lead to the reorganisation of habit families, with successful responses being strengthened or promoted (and hence becoming more likely with practice) and unsuccessful responses being weakened or demoted (and hence becoming less likely with practice)

	Criado por wrennie aproximadamente 11 anos atrás

Notas sobre Early psychological studies, criado por wrennie em 22-04-2013.