Trial-and-error theory was put forward by Thorndike, a famous American psychologist, at the end of/kloc-0 and the beginning of the 20th century. Starting from the concept of "conceptual connection" in associative psychology, Thorndike put forward a series of learning rules and principles centered on "trial and error" on the basis of a series of animal learning experiments and according to Aristotle's three laws of association.

Second, the main points

1. The essence of learning is to form certain connections. Thorndike believes that learning is trial and error, and it is the connection between stimulus and response. The so-called connection is the tendency that a situation can only cause some reactions, but not other reactions. The role of learning is to connect or permanently preserve, or eliminate, or change the original.

2. It is necessary to establish a certain connection through trial and error. Thorndike believes that a certain connection is formed through trial and error and according to certain rules.

3. Animal learning is blind, while human learning is conscious. Thorndike believes that animal learning is different from human learning. Animal learning is completely blind and does not need to take thought as the medium.

4. Basic law of trial-and-error learning: (1) Law of effect: In the process of trial-and-error learning, if other conditions are equal, when learners can get satisfactory results after making a specific response to the stimulus situation, the connection will be strengthened; And when you get annoying results, its connection will be weakened. (2) Practice: In the process of trial and error learning, any connection between stimulus and response will gradually increase its intensity once practiced. And if you don't use it, the power of the connection will gradually decrease. (3) The law of preparation: In the process of trial and error learning, when the connection between stimulus and response has a state of preparation in advance, it will be satisfactory if it is realized, otherwise it will be troublesome; On the other hand, when this connection is not ready to be implemented, the implementation will be very troublesome.