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... > social science subjects > psychology > cognitive psychology > learning and perception > cognitive processes > association (psychology) > free association
... > social science subjects > psychology > cognitive psychology > learning (psychology) > association (psychology) > free association
... > social science subjects > psychology > applied psychology > educational psychology > learning (psychology) > association (psychology) > free association
... > social science subjects > education > education studies > educational psychology > learning (psychology) > association (psychology) > free association
... > social science subjects > psychology > cognitive psychology > mental processes > learning (psychology) > association (psychology) > free association
... > social science subjects > counseling and psychotherapy > psychotherapy > psychodynamic therapy > psychoanalysis > association (psychology) > free association
... > social science subjects > psychology > applied psychology > clinical psychology > psychotherapy > psychodynamic therapy > psychoanalysis > association (psychology) > free association
... > social science subjects > counseling and psychotherapy > counseling programs > substance abuse treatment > treatment theories, research, techniques, strategies, and effectiveness > psychotherapy > psychodynamic therapy > psychoanalysis > association (psychology) > free association

Preferred term

free association  

Definition

  • Free association is an inadequate translation into English of the German term freier Einfall (meaning “free irruption”), which Sigmund Freud used to characterize ideas that irrupt into consciousness. Freud first described this irruption when he was investigating the causes of symptoms, parapraxes (slips of the tongue), and dreams. [Source: Encyclopedia of Counseling; Free Association]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/free_association

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