Thorndike. The law of effect stated that those behavioral responses that were most closely followed by a satisfying result were most likely to become established patterns and to occur again in response to the same stimulus.

The law of effect principle developed by Edward Thorndike suggested 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 (Gray, 2011, p.

Edward Thorndike was an influential psychologist who is often referred to as the founder of modern educational psychology. He was perhaps best-known for his famous puzzle box experiments with cats which led to the development of his law of effect.

EDWARD THORNDIKE. Thorndike’s Law of Effect states that a response followed by a pleasant consequence is more likely to be repeated, whereas a response followed by an unpleasant consequence is more likely to be diminished.

Two Aspects of Consciousness. Consciousness is typically taken to have two aspects: local states (see Glossary) and global states. Local states of consciousness include perceptual experiences of various kinds, imagery experiences, bodily sensations, affective experiences, and occurrent thoughts.

Edward Thorndike

When Carla was a child, she ate too much cotton candy at the fair and became very ill. For many years she avoided cotton candy and even the smell made her sick.

1898

The law of effect states that if a response in the presence of a stimulus is followed by a satisfying event, the association between the stimulus and the response is strengthened.

More Examples If you study and then get a good grade on a test, you will be more likely to study for the next exam. If you work hard and then receive a promotion and pay raise, you will be more likely to continue to put in more effort at work.

A Skinner Box is a often small chamber that is used to conduct operant conditioning research with animals. Within the chamber, there is usually a lever (for rats) or a key (for pigeons) that an individual animal can operate to obtain a food or water within the chamber as a reinforcer.

Water, food, sleep, shelter, sex, and touch, among others, are primary reinforcers. Pleasure is also a primary reinforcer.

A Primary Reinforcer is a stimulus that is biologically important to an organism, such as food, water, sleep, shelter, safety, pleasure, and sex. It leads to an involuntary response, such as recoiling, drooling, and trembling.

What is the difference between primary and secondary reinforcers? Primary reinforcers are reinforcers that meet a biological need such as food and shelter. While Secondary reinforces gain value by association with primary reinforcers.

Some examples of secondary reinforcers include: verbal praise, highly preferred activities, stickers, toys, and edibles.

Primary and secondary reinforcers are both forms of positive reinforcement, which is the process of rewarding a behavior. Primary reinforcement involves a reward that fulfils a biological need. Secondary reinforcers are learned and work via association with primary reinforcers.

In operant conditioning there are Primary Reinforcers and Conditioned Reinforcers. Primary reinforcers are naturally reinforcing, i.e. there is no learning necessary for them to be reinforcing. In contrast, the candy is a primary reinforcer because it did not have to learned.

These reinforcers occur naturally without having to make any effort and do not require any form of learning. For example: food, sleep, water, air and sex. Primary reinforcements are naturally occurring and do not require an individual to learn any significant method or process in order to work.

Chapter 4

Generalized reinforcers are secondary reinforcers paired with more that one primary reinforcer. Affection is an example of a generalized reinforcer.