Thorndike's Law of Effect Explained
Edward Thorndike's Law of Effect is a fundamental principle in learning theory. It describes how the likelihood of a specific behavior changes based on its consequences.
The core idea is:
- Behaviors followed by satisfying or favorable consequences tend to be repeated (become stronger).
- Behaviors followed by annoying or unfavorable consequences tend to be avoided (become weaker).
This directly corresponds to option B, which states: "Behaviors followed by favourable consequences become more likely and that behaviours followed by unfavourable consequences become less likely to occur". This principle laid the groundwork for later theories like operant conditioning.
Option 1 describes operant behavior (Skinner). Option 3 relates to associative learning or classical conditioning. Option 4 describes respondent behavior.
Important Questions from Principles and theories of learning
- A procedure that provides information to the learner in small steps, guarantees immediate feedback and allows the learner to determine the pace with which to complete the task. It is called
- Behaviour modification by the application of operant conditioning consists of the following :
a. Token economy
b. Punishment
c. Time-out
d. Withdrawal of reinforcement Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer by choosing from the codes given below :
List – I List – II a. Observational learning i. Learning where an object is located b. Place learning ii. A response that can be observed by others c. Overt responding iii. The process whereby information is acquired by attending to events in the environment d. Latent learning iv. Learning that takes place independent of reinforcement - Punishment given frequently to young students leads to
- Read each of the following two statements – Assertion (A) and Reason (R); and indicate your answer using codes given below :
Assertion (A) : Hull proposed that Reaction Potential ($S_E R$) is the product of Habit Strength ($S_H R$) and Drive (D) from this some testable prediction can be made about the rate of eye lid conditioning in relation to drive.
Reason (R) : Hull’s theory is based on Hypothetico-Deductive model which involved deducting testable consequences based on postulates.
