Ch 6 Vid 1 Thorndikes Law of Effect

Operant Conditioning

A learning process where behavior is influenced by the consequences that follow it.

Instrumental Conditioning

Another term for operant conditioning, emphasizing that behavior is instrumental in producing a consequence.

Law of Effect

The principle that behaviors leading to a satisfying state of affairs are more likely to be repeated.

Edward Thorndyke

Psychologist known for his work on operant conditioning and the law of effect, developed through his puzzle box experiments.

Puzzle Box Study

An experiment conducted by Thorndyke involving cats placed in a box to measure how quickly they could escape to obtain food.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Operant Behaviors

Behaviors that operate on the environment and whose consequences influence future behavior, as opposed to reflexive behaviors.

Consequences

Outcomes that follow a behavior, which can reinforce or discourage the recurrence of that behavior.

Anecdotal Evidence

Based on personal accounts or stories rather than solid scientific evidence, often unreliable in supporting claims.

Graphical Representation

A visual way to represent data, such as the time it took cats to escape in Thorndyke's experiments.