transfer of training

n. The effect of previous learning on new learning, which may enhance, retard, or have no effect on the new learning. Solving new problems or performing new tasks is easier if they can be solved or accomplished without new effort in analysis. If the patterns learned in old solutions or tasks lead us to think or act in ways that are not helpful in the new tasks and especially if they prevent us from noticing new possibilities, then the transfer of training makes matters harder.