In Thorndike's studies using the puzzle box, he found that a cat was likely to pull a string to escape the box if the consequence of that behaviour was food. This is an example of
A) Classical conditioning
B) Weber's law
C) The law of effect
D) The law of reinforcement

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thorndike's studies in puzzle box showed that if the consequence of the behaviour (such as pulling a string) is positive (such as obtaining food), the behaviour is likely to be repeated in the future. This is known as the law of effect. Choice A is incorrect as classical conditioning involves learning through association between stimuli, which is not the case in Thorndike's study. Choice B is also incorrect as Weber's law is related to the ability to detect differences in stimuli, not learning processes. Choice D is partly correct as reinforcement is a key component of the law of effect, but does not encompass the full concept.

In Thorndike's Studies Using the Puzzle Box, He Found That