ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Association (psychology)

Association in psychology means that our brain connects different things together based on our experiences and memories.

Let's say you see a picture of a cute puppy. Your brain might associate that image with feelings of happiness and joy because you have positive memories of playing with puppies in the past.

But if you see a snake, your brain may associate that with fear or danger because you've been taught that snakes can be harmful or scary.

So, basically, association is when our brain links things together based on our past experiences and emotions. It's like a mental map of our memories, helping us to make connections and understand the world around us.