THEORIES OF LEARNING: Page 46

connection, but that a desirable effect was necessary to confirm it. His concept was that there must be contiguity, that if ideas act together they make up another intelligible association, and we then have a stimulus and response association. The hypothesis from which he started was that a neural bond was formed. He conducted experiments to find out by what forces the learning process was conditioned when it was regarded as a connecting of bonds. Among his conclusions was the conviction that the learner's response to a given stimulus—other things being equal—depends upon the "strength of the connection" between them. Thus, the importance of 'stamping in' in learning. Thorndike listed numerous laws to state his theory. The Law of Effect states that, through use, the neural bonds are strengthened but that painful association decreases their strength. The Law of Exercise states that a modifiable connection increases the strength, the lack of such connection will decrease strength. The Law of Readiness deals with motivation and the explanation that it is satisfying to the subject to conduct when the conduction unit is ready. The Law of Multiple Response describes trial and error learning. The Law of Attitudes, Dispositions and 'Set* claims that these conditions affect learning. The Law of Partial Activity points out that there is a choice of elements that will lead to the aim. The Law of Assimilation or Analogy states that the response is adapted from the experiences of the past.