The cats in Thorndike's experiments improved their ability to escape his puzzle boxes gradually, not suddenly. What conclusion did he draw from this observation?

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Thorndike's observation that cats improved their ability to escape his puzzle boxes gradually, not suddenly, led him to conclude that learning is based on strengthening responses, not on insights. This idea is the basis of Thorndike's Law of Effect, which states that behaviors that are followed by a satisfying consequence tend to be repeated, while those that are followed by an unsatisfying consequence tend not to be repeated. This principle is a key concept in behaviorism and operant conditioning.

The Cats in Thorndike's Experiments Improved Their Ability to Escape