Associationism is a psychological theory that suggests our thoughts and behaviors are formed through associations between different ideas and experiences. This means that when we encounter something new, we connect it to what we already know, creating a network of related concepts. For example, seeing a dog might remind us of our own pet or a childhood memory involving animals. The roots of associationism can be traced back to philosophers like Aristotle and later developed by psychologists such as John Locke and David Hume. They believed that learning occurs through the formation of these associations, which help us make sense of the world and guide our actions based on past experiences.