Edward Thorndike

Definition

Edward Thorndike was an American psychologist who proposed the law of effect, stating that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences become more likely to occur in the future, and those followed by unsatisfying consequences become less likely.

Related terms

Law of Effect:

The principle that behaviors are selected by their consequences; behavior having good outcomes tends to be repeated, while behavior having bad outcomes tends not to be repeated.

Operant Conditioning:

A type of learning where behavior is controlled by consequences.

Reinforcement:

In operant conditioning, any event that strengthens or increases the likelihood of a behavior.