In the supermarket checkout line, if John is crying, his mother gives him candy to calm him down. However, if John is sitting quietly in the cart, his mother does not give him candy. John really likes candy, so it is likely that he will repeat his crying behavior, as suggested by _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thorndike's law of effect states that behaviors that are followed by positive consequences (such as receiving candy) are more likely to be repeated in the future. In this case, John's crying behavior is being reinforced by the positive consequence of receiving candy, and therefore it is likely that he will continue to cry in order to receive the candy.

In the Supermarket Checkout Line, If John Is Crying, His