theory of identical elements

The "theory of identical elements" in cognition suggests that transfer of training between different activities occurs only if those activities share common features or elements. This theory was proposed as an alternative to the doctrine of formal discipline, which posited that mental faculties could be strengthened through exercise, like muscles.1

For example, it was reasoned that training in addition would transfer to multiplication because multiplication involves repeated addition, thus sharing identical features and requiring concentration. However, this theory also faced challenges, as experimental results indicated that understanding general principles, rather than just shared task elements, significantly impacts the transfer of training.1