Is associative learning theory mere ^|^ldquo;ratomorphism^|^rdquo;?

Abstract

Many researchers have been interested in cognitive abilities of animals and investigated those issues by using several methods. Associative learning theory, which is mainly adopted in classical and operant conditioning literature, has been considered “simple” and sometime “appropriate” account of animal behavior from the point of view of Morgan's canon. In present article, criticism toward associative account and another reason why associative account is appropriate for animal behavior were reviewed, proposing proper usage of associative learning theory in complex animal behavior. One possible answer in present discussion is that associative learning theory is some kind of “intermediate language”, which can work as the bridge among neural mechanism, psychological faculty in animals, and anthropomorphic explanations.View full abstract