The law of effect, also called Thorndike's law, is a principle in psychology advanced by Edward Thorndike in 1898 concerning behavioral conditioning, stating that responses which produce a satisfying effect in a given situation become more likely to recur in that situation, while responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to recur. Thorndike's own terms satisfying and dissatisfying were later replaced by reinforcing and punishing once operant conditioning became established as its own field, and satisfying or dissatisfying conditions are determined by an animal's own subsequent behavior rather than fixed or predicted in advance.
Facts
Core ClaimResponses that produce a satisfying effect in a situation become more likely to recur there, and responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely. 1 Connections
Developed By
Edward Thorndike formulated the law of effect from his puzzle-box experiments with cats, establishing that responses followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated.
Sources
1. Law of effect, Wikipedia
Lead section, paragraph 1 (definition)
responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation
Lead section, paragraph 1 (date)
is a psychology principle advanced by Edward Thorndike in 1898
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