THE ASSOCIATIVE PROCESSES IN ANIMALS. ^^ 



previous experience would have strengthened the association 

 between clawing and confinement, or at least weakened it less 

 than it had weakened the impulses to bite and squeeze. That 

 is, in any situation the impulses and acts which appear are due 

 not only to the animal's instinctive tendencies, but also to any 

 modifications of them which have been wrought by associations 

 already formed. The question of how an animal will act in 

 any situation may thus require, for correct prophecy, knowledge 

 not only of its inborn constitution, but also of its entire previous 

 history. 



Let us now return to the simple cases of animal behavior with 

 which we started and interpret them in accordance with the 

 facts we have found in our observation of the formation of 

 associations under test conditions. The cat's coming when we 

 call, " Kitty, kitty," we have already explained as a case of an 

 act associated with a certain total situation first (because, of 

 course, the act brought the pleasure of eating), then with one 

 element of that situation. The chick coming out of the brooder, 

 turning round a corner, and going straight to the dish of water, 

 leads back to a history somewhat like this : 



Situation. Impulses. Consequent Acts. 



Being in yard. To walk around and 



Feeling thirsty. to peck at things, e.g., 



at stones, 



seeds, 



worms, 



specks of all sorts, e.g., 



specks of dirt in the '\ 



water of water dish, C These lead to the further 



the edge of the dish. ) ^^ts of drinking. 



The last part of this piece of experience leads by repetition 

 to the formation of an association between the situation, I^A) 

 "presence near dish when thirsty," and the act, "drinking." 

 But as soon as it is partly formed there is also being formed an 

 association between the situation, {B) " presence near brooder 

 when thirsty," and the act, "walking around the corner"; for 

 whenever in that situation the chick by accident does stroll 

 around the corner, it comes to feel situation A, and so to be led 

 to the pleasurable drinking. The chick's conduct (and other 



