Homonym: association (Connection)
Association refers to the mental connection or relationship between two or more concepts, ideas, or experiences. It helps individuals make sense of the world by linking new information to what they already know. For example, when someone hears the word dog, they might think of pets, loyalty, or even a specific dog they own.
In psychology, association plays a crucial role in learning and memory. The classical conditioning process, developed by Ivan Pavlov, demonstrates how a neutral stimulus can become associated with a response through repeated pairing. This principle is foundational in understanding how behaviors and reactions can be learned and modified over time.