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Review
. 2022 Nov;86(8):2341-2351.
doi: 10.1007/s00426-021-01631-1. Epub 2021 Dec 24.

Associations do not energize behavior: on the forgotten legacy of Kurt Lewin

Andreas B Eder  1 , David Dignath  2
Affiliations
Review

Associations do not energize behavior: on the forgotten legacy of Kurt Lewin

Andreas B Eder et al. Psychol Res. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Hundred years ago, Kurt Lewin published a series of articles in which he vehemently argued against the idea that associations between stimuli and responses motivate behavior. This article reviews his empirical work and theory and the cogency of Lewin's conclusion according to modern standards. We conclude that Lewin's criticism of the contiguity principle of associationism is still valid, and is now supported by a broad range of theories on learning, motivation, and action control. Implications for modern dual-system theory and modern theories on motivated action and (instructed) task sets are discussed.

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