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
Belongs To School
Source Law of effect, Wikipedia
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.
In Branch
Source Law of effect, Wikipedia
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
In Branch: Behavioral Psychology, Lead sentence
The law of effect, or Thorndike's law, is a psychology principle advanced by Edward Thorndike in 1898 on the matter of behavioral conditioning (not then formulated as such) which states that "responses that produce a satisfying effect in a particular situation become more likely to occur again in that situation, and responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again in that situation." This notion is very similar to that of evolutionary theory, if a certain character trait provides an advantage for reproduction then that trait will persist.
Belongs To School: Connectionism, Article text
This principle, discussed early on by Lloyd Morgan, is usually associated with the connectionism of Edward Thorndike, who said that if an association is followed by a "satisfying state of affairs" it will be strengthened and if it is followed by an "annoying state of affairs" it will be weakened.
View the SourceReader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.