What is contiguity theory?

Contiguity theory, primarily associated with the behaviorist perspective in psychology, posits that learning occurs when two events are experienced together in time and space, leading to an association between them. This concept suggests that the repeated pairing of stimuli or responses reinforces the connection, making it more likely that one will evoke the other in the future. It is often linked to classical and operant conditioning, where the temporal proximity of stimuli influences the strength of the learned association. Overall, contiguity theory emphasizes the importance of the timing and proximity of experiences in the learning process.