Psychology: Thorndike's Law of Effect Flashcards

Thorndike's Law of Effect

• Developed by Edward Thorndike, this principle states behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are likely to be repeated.
• Behaviors followed by unsatisfying outcomes tend to be avoided.

Primary Reinforcement

• Refers to stimuli that are innately reinforcing, such as food, which fulfill basic needs.

Secondary Reinforcement

• Involves stimuli that acquire reinforcing properties through learning, exemplified by money.

Shaping

• A method of training where successive approximations of a desired behavior are reinforced, gradually leading to the target behavior.

Reinforcement Schedules

• Types include fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, and variable interval, determining the timing and frequency of reinforcement.

Fixed Ratio

• A set number of responses must occur before reinforcement is received, such as payments for every ten wallets produced.

Variable Ratio

• The number of responses required for reinforcement varies across trials, maintaining an average, commonly seen in gambling.

Fixed Interval

• Reinforcement follows the first response after a predetermined time has elapsed, such as after midterms or finals.

Variable Interval

• Reinforcement is provided after the first response following unpredictable time intervals, as experienced with pop quizzes.

Motivation Theories

• Three primary theories include drive reduction, incentive theory, and arousal theory, explaining behavioral motivations.

Drive Reduction Theory

• Suggests behavior is driven to reduce physiological drives that stem from unmet bodily needs, promoting internal balance (e.g., eating to regain concentration).

Incentive Theory

• Proposes that behavior is motivated by external stimuli that signal reinforcement, such as working for a paycheck.

Arousal Theory

• Posits that behavior is driven to achieve an optimal level of physiological arousal, illustrated by attending concerts for excitement.

Sensory Memory

• Comprises iconic (visual) and echoic (auditory) memory forms, capturing stimuli for brief periods.

Iconic Memory

• A type of sensory memory that provides a short-term, precise visual replication of an image.

Echoic Memory

• Relates to auditory information, retaining sounds and what is heard, typically in short-term memory.

Explore the concepts behind Thorndike's Law of Effect through engaging flashcards. These cards cover key terms such as primary and secondary reinforcement, crucial for understanding behavior reinforcement principles in psychology.