The term "associative" refers to the ability to connect or relate different ideas, concepts, or objects. In mathematics, for example, the associative property states that the way numbers are grouped in addition or multiplication does not change their sum or product. This means that (a + b) + c is the same as a + (b + c), where a, b, and c are numbers. In psychology, associative learning is a process where an individual learns to connect a stimulus with a response. This can be seen in classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a significant one, leading to a learned response. A famous example is Pavlov's dogs, which learned to associate the sound of a bell with food.