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The Law of Effect

This video presents the same text shown beside it, spoken and on screen. It adds nothing the text does not say.

State

Thorndike's law of effect states that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences become more likely and those followed by unpleasant ones less likely.

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A cat escapes a puzzle box faster on each trial as successful movements are followed by release and food.

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The law describes a relationship between behavior and consequence. It says nothing about what the animal understands.