VIII. Memory and Association
The "law of association" asserts that no idea exists in the mind except in association to other ideas. While this is not generally recognized, it is commonly demonstrated in practice that there are associations in memory: unless we strain to focus upon a specific topic, the mind drifts from one topic to another as one memory evokes others, and a person can often be helped to remember something by mentioning something closely associated to it. So while it is arguable whether ideas absolutely must be associated to others, it is generally true that they happen to be so.
And so, it can be said that ideas generally "travel in groups" that are hooked to one another in various ways, though some of the connections may seem unusual. In theory, it may be possible to begin with one idea in the mind of a person, and then gradually unwind his entire stock of memories by linking one to another, as is often practiced in casual conversation. One thing reminds us of a second, the second of a third, and the third of a fourth - and we find ourselves wondering how we came to be speaking of the fourth topic.
Atkinson considers there to be three general classes of association of ideas in memory:
- Association of simultaneity - when we are aware of two or more different things at the same time, an association between them is made and they become as a set. This often occurs across senses: sitting in a parlor drinking brandy while listening to music creates a simultaneous connection between perceptions of taste, hearing, and sight.
- Association of contiguity - a connection of two separate concepts due to their proximity in time and space. When you are introduced to two people standing together, you will often remember one when you think of the other. Or if two events occur, one after the other, there will be a connection between them in memory.
- Logical association - things that are experienced in different places and times may become associated to their similarity or difference in a logical sense. Thinking of a n apple makes us think of a pear because they are both fruit, not because they were experienced at the same time. In fact, memory often becomes mashed together in this fashion - if you have read five books of poetry, you may no longer accurately remember which poem had been in which book.
(EN: And as with all simplistic classifications, I doubt this list to be nearly comprehensive. Having traced the flow of thoughts and conversations, I recall a number of points of association that do not fit neatly into any of these categories.)
The pattern of associations in the mind is less like a chain than a web. To think of one thing makes a person think of many other things. For example, a yellow circle may cause us to recall a dozen other things that were approximately the same color or had a circular shape. While the mind seeks order and classification, it is not exclusive in doing so: things are placed in multiple categories.
Repetition in Memory
Another common observation about memory is that impressions become stronger by repetition. The standard method of memorizing things is to experience them repeatedly - whether it is memorization by rote (repeating a poem over and over, immediately) or separated buy a significant amount of time (reading the poem once per week).
Experiments have shown that repetition creates memory. Some people can remember things with only a few repetitions, but with enough repetitions even relatively dull people cannot avoid remembering it.
Advice for Developing Memory
You can develop a better memory, but only by putting effort into the development, because you will get out of memory only that which you place into it: create clear and detailed impressions and you will have clear, detailed, and strong memories.
To create a strong impression:
The improve the recollection of memories: