New Directions in Human Associative Learning

The editor and authors of this book present a synthesis of work on human associative learning, tracing some of its historical roots but concentrating mainly on recent developments. It is divided into three sections: an introduction to the recent data and controversies in the study of human associative learning; recent developments in the formal theories of how associative learning occurs; and applied work on human associative learning, particularly its application to depression and to the development of preferences. The book is designed to be accessible to undergraduates, providing a clear illustration of how principles most commonly introduced in animal cognition courses are relevant to the contemporary study of human cognition.

Contents: Preface. A.J. Wills, Association and Cognition. A.G. Baker, R. Murphy, R. Mehta, I. Baetu, Mental Models of Causation: A Comparative View. J. De Houwer, S. Vandorpe, T. Beckers, On the Role of Controlled Cognitive Processes in Human Associative Learning. J.M. Tangen, L.G. Allan, H. Sadeghi, Assessing (In)sensitivity to Casual Asymmetry: A Matter of Degree. A.J. Wills, Connectionist Models of Human Associative Learning. J. Zwickel, A.J. Wills, Integrating Associative Models of Supervised and Unsupervised Categorization. M.E. Le Pelley, I.P.L. McLaren, The Role of Associative History in Human Casual Learning. M. Suret, I.P.L. McLaren, Elemental Representation and Associability: An Integrated Model. A.J. Wills, Applications and Extensions. R.A. Murphy, F. Vallée-Tourangeau, R. Msetfi, A.G. Baker, Signal-Outcome Contingency, Contiguity, and the Depressive Realism Effect. A.P. Field, Learning to Like (or Dislike): Associative Learning of Preferences.