Given below are two statements: Statement I: Contiguity theory gives no place…
2023
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Contiguity theory gives no place to effect in learning.
Statement II: Watson's theory gave emphasis on the importance of frequency or exercise in learning.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Answer: A. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct — CONCEPTA contiguity account explains learning through the close pairing of a stimulus and a response. In Guthrie’s form, reinforcement or satisfying…
- A.
Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
- B.
Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
- C.
Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
- D.
Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Attempted by 1 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
CONCEPT
A contiguity account explains learning through the close pairing of a stimulus and a response. In Guthrie’s form, reinforcement or satisfying consequences are not required to strengthen that connection.
Watsonian habit formation also uses the frequency principle: repeated stimulus–response pairings increase the strength of a habit, alongside the role of temporal recency.
APPLICATION
Statement I removes the law of effect from contiguity learning. That matches Guthrie’s view that mere stimulus–response contiguity, rather than reinforcement by consequences, produces learning.
Statement II attributes frequency or exercise to Watson. Watson’s account of habit formation gives repeated stimulus–response pairings an important role.
CONTRAST
Both statements correct: this combines Guthrie’s rejection of the law of effect with Watson’s frequency principle.
Both statements incorrect: this would wrongly assign an effect-based mechanism to Guthrie and remove repetition from Watson’s account.
Statement I correct and Statement II incorrect: this recognizes Guthrie’s position but overlooks frequency in Watsonian habit formation.
Statement I incorrect and Statement II correct: this retains Watson’s frequency principle but incorrectly makes effect necessary in Guthrie’s theory.
CROSS-CHECK
Thorndike’s law of effect makes satisfying consequences central, whereas Guthrie’s contiguity theory does not. Watson’s law of frequency separately explains why exercise or repetition matters.
Therefore, both Statement I and Statement II are correct.