Harriet gives a monkey a choice between two blocks of wood, one rough and the other smooth. If the animal selects the rough block, it receives a raisin; if it picks the smooth one, it receives nothing.
When the animal regularly picks the rough block, Harriet gives the animal a choice between the rough
Block of wood and a new block of wood that is even rougher than the first. You predict that the
Monkey will _______.
A) pick the new, very rough block
B) pick the old, somewhat rough block
C) show no preference between the blocks
D) show signs of developing an experimental neurosis

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The monkey has learned that choosing the rough block results in a reward (raisin). Therefore, it is likely that the monkey will continue to choose the block with the rougher texture, which in this case is the new, very rough block. This is known as the "matching law," which states that animals (including humans) tend to choose options that have a higher probability of providing a greater reward.

Harriet Gives a Monkey a Choice Between Two Blocks of Wood