Our actions have consequences, but what would happen if they didn’t? For example, would we commit more infractions on public roads if there were no sanctions for it? Could we avoid discussions with certain people we disagree with if there were no consequences? Maybe this sounds familiar to you since you’ve experienced it before.
Having information on this topic can provide you with the knowledge you need about this concept. Do you want to know more about this? In this Psychology-Online article, we will provide you with information about the Thorndike effect law: what it consists of, examples and criticisms.
What is the law of the Thorndike effect?
Edward Thorndike was an American psychologist who dedicated himself to studying the behavior of both animals and people. Thorndike placed special emphasis on the results given by certain behaviors observed in his studies, so it is one of the greatest references in behavioral psychology. In this article you will see.
This researcher proposed the law of the Thorndike effect, which explains that behavior can be modified depending on the consequences it has. In this sense, it is worth noting that the results considered positive can be implemented as behavioral patterns sustained over time due to the effects they have. In this way, there will be a greater chance that said action will be repeated.
On the contrary, this law mentions that the chances of the same behavior being repeated with negative consequences will be lower.
Thorndike’s experiment the problem box
One of Thorndike’s greatest areas of interest was the study of animal behavior. In order to gain further support for his theoretical framework, he decided to study the behavior of cats to determine their intelligence.
To do this, he designed an experiment called “problem box” that consisted of placing cats inside wooden boxes and food dishes out of the reach of these animals. This idea allowed him to observe the different strategies that the cats carried out to get out of the boxes and get the food. However, Thorndike put up certain obstacles that made it difficult for the animal to get out.
Some time after carrying out this test, it was concluded that the time to solve a problem decreased considerably when the animal correctly solved the opening of the door. In this sense, it was proven that the positive results of a behavior determine the chances of the behavior in question being repeated again.
If you want to know more, in this article you will find others explained.
Everyday Examples of Thorndike’s Law of the Effect
In order to clarify how the law of the Thorndike effect works, below, we will show you everyday examples that are applicable to this principle:
- Example 1: An athletic man decides to run a marathon without having warmed up beforehand to avoid injuries. However, the day after completing the marathon they detected a tear in his adductors. Because of these circumstances, from now on the man could decide to carry out warm-ups every time he has to run a marathon so as not to have a negative result in his behavior again.
- Example 2: A woman has studied for months to pass an exam to enter a residency. After doing so, she finds out that she has successfully passed the test and has been able to achieve her goal. Consequently, in the future she may spend a lot of time studying whenever she wants to get a good grade on an exam. In these cases, you can consult this article about .
Criticisms of Thorndike’s law of the effect
Beyond the characteristics of Thorndike’s law of the effect, the truth is that it has aroused some opinions contrary to its hypotheses. Next, we will see in detail the most outstanding criticisms:
- Perception of negative results: This principle states that negative results and their consequences are generalized to all people, without any type of possible distinction. However, each person’s perception may vary depending on the environment that surrounds them and their own assessment of what happens to them. For example, verbal abuse towards one person is a behavior with negative results but another person could consider that it reinforces positive behavior as a means of self-improvement.
- Perception of positive results: In line with the previous point, it is also impossible to generalize what is meant by a positive result. The perception of each person determines that each person associates a certain evaluation with each stimulus that can change depending on the variables in the environment.
- Experimentation in controlled context: The results visualized by Thorndike’s law of the effect have been obtained in controlled research settings such as laboratories. However, the possible incidences that interference that arises in open environments could have are left aside. For example, the problem box experiment could have had different results if the experiment had been carried out with a larger number of people, different noises or smells, etc.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Álvarez Arboleda, LM (2007). The study of learning from the associationist model and the functionalist model: a historical journey. Psychological Reports Magazine, 9 (1), 121-134.
- Bitterman, M. E. (1986). The evolution of learning: Generality and divergence. Latin American Journal of Psychology, 18 (2), 247-262.