Introduction/objective: A recent debate has emerged concerning the role of associative-automatic processes in human associative learning. This is based on the difficulties of observing blocking, which is defined as a phenomenon whereby a stimulus that has developed an association with a relevant event (elementary training) impedes the learning of any other stimulus in a later phase in which both stimuli are presented together and followed by the relevant event (compound training). This type of blocking is referred to as proactive, to differentiate it from retroactive, in which the phases are reversed. This evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that humans perform exclusively propositional logic (blocking is not logical deduction). To investigate the role of these processes in blocking in humans, two variables were examined: order (proactive vs. retroactive blocking) and stimulus exposure time in a causal judgment task (1-second brief vs. free time). Method: A total of 32 participants were randomly assigned to either a brief time group (n = 16) or a free time group (n = 16). Half of the participants in each group received a proactive order, while the other half received a retroactive order. Results: The results indicated that proactive blocking was observed exclusively in the brief time group, and retroactive blocking was not observed in either group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that blocking can be observed in humans when experimental conditions favor associative learning over rational learning.

Keywords:
Blocking, proactive blocking, retroactive blocking, stimulus duration, causal learning, automatic processes, controlled processes

02_RLP_57_24130_Efecto

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