What major principle describes the relationship between behavior and outcomes in Thorndike's law of effect?

What major principle describes the relationship between behavior and outcomes in Thorndike's law of effect?

• A. Behavior is independent of consequences
• B. Behavior followed by a pleasant outcome is likely to be repeated
• C. All behavior is instinctual
• D. Consequences do not affect behavior

Answer: (B)

The principle that behavior followed by a pleasant outcome is likely to be repeated is at the core of Thorndike's law of effect. This law posits that actions that produce satisfying or rewarding outcomes tend to be reinforced and become more likely to occur in the future. Conversely, behaviors that lead to unpleasant outcomes are less likely to be repeated. This concept underscores the importance of consequences in shaping behaviors and helps explain how reinforcement works in learning theory. For example, if a student receives praise for completing their homework, this positive reinforcement increases the likelihood that they will engage in homework completion in the future. In this way, the law of effect emphasizes the role of outcomes in influencing future behavior, a fundamental aspect of behaviorist learning theory.

The principle that behavior followed by a pleasant outcome is likely to be repeated is at the core of Thorndike's law of effect. This law posits that actions that produce satisfying or rewarding outcomes tend to be reinforced and become more likely to occur in the future. Conversely, behaviors that lead to unpleasant outcomes are less likely to be repeated. This concept underscores the importance of consequences in shaping behaviors and helps explain how reinforcement works in learning theory.

For example, if a student receives praise for completing their homework, this positive reinforcement increases the likelihood that they will engage in homework completion in the future. In this way, the law of effect emphasizes the role of outcomes in influencing future behavior, a fundamental aspect of behaviorist learning theory.