Law of Effect
Definition
The Law of Effect is a psychological principle advanced by Edward Thorndike suggesting that responses closely followed by satisfaction will become firmly attached to the situation and therefore more likely to reoccur when the situation is repeated. Conversely, if the situation is followed by discomfort, connections to the situation will become weaker.
Analogy
It's like training a dog with treats. If you give your dog a treat after it sits on command (satisfaction), it's more likely to sit again when asked (situation). But if you scold your dog after it sits (discomfort), it may hesitate before sitting next time you ask.
Related terms
Punishment: An unpleasant consequence occurs and decreases the frequency of the behavior in future.
Reinforcement Schedule: A plan for determining which responses will be reinforced; can be fixed or variable in terms of interval or ratio.
Operant Behavior: Behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences.
"Law of Effect" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (1)
- Which of the following best represents Thorndike's concept of the Law of Effect?
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