A theory that the tendency of a stimulus to evoke a response is strengthened if the response is followed by reward and is weakened if the response is not followed by reward. Applied to instrumental learning, this theory states that as trials proceed, incorrect bonds will weaken while the correct bond will be strengthened.
Thorndike's general theory of learning, which states that any behavior that leads to a "satisfying state of affairs" is more likely to occur again, and that those that lead to an "annoying state of affairs" are less likely to reoccur. go to glossary index
the theory, developed by American psychologist E. L. Thorndike, that behaviours that lead to ‘good’ outcomes are repeated whilst those that lead to ‘bad’ outcomes are not, and which can form the basis for an evolutionary account of how the organism learns to make appropriate responses in its environment.
Consequences determine behavior. If good consequences follow the behavior, the behavior will be repeated. If bad consequences follow the behavior, the behavior will be less likely to be repeated.
A principle of learning that holds that behaviour is acquired by virtue of its consequences.
Behaviors that are followed by a positive outcome are repeated, while those followed by a negative outcome or none at all are extinguished (Edward L. Thorndike)
(psychology) the principle that behaviors are selected by their consequences; behavior having good consequences tends to be repeated whereas behavior that leads to bad consequences is not repeated
Edward Thorndike's principle that a behavior followed by a satisfying state of affairs is strengthened and a behavior followed by an annoying state of affairs is weakened. (245)
The phenomenon that any behavior that is followed by reinforcement is strengthened; from the infinite pool of possible responses, those that lead to reinforcement are repeated, whereas those that do not are extinguished. See also reinforcement.
The law of effect is a principle of psychology described by Edward Thorndike in 1898Thorndike, E. L. (1898). Animal intelligence: An experimental study of the associative processes in animals.
