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Definition
A theory of learning proposed by Thorndike stating that responses closely followed by satisfaction are firmly connected to that situation and are more likely to be repeated when the situation occurs again. Responses followed by discomfort have their association to the situation weakened and are less likely to occur in similar situations.
Introduction
Thorndike developed a theory of learning through on the basis of this experimental research with animals. He represented the original Stimulus-Response (S-R) framework and considered that learning is the result of associations formed between stimuli and response. He placed emphasis on the role of experience in the strengthening/weakening of S-R connections (Connectionism) and posed that learning happens through trial and error (Ormrod 2016). Some responses eventually dominate because they become associated with satisfaction.
Development of the Theory
Thorndike introduced his theory of learning, termed as...
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References
Ormrod, J. E. (2016). Human learning. Pearson.
Thorndike, E. L. (1898). Animal intelligence: An experimental study of the associative processes in animals. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 2(4), i-109.
Thorndike, E. L. (1911). Animal intelligence. New York: Macmillan.
Thorndike, E. L. (1905). The elements of psychology. New York: Seiler.
Thorndike, E. L. (1935). The psychology of wants, interests, and attitudes. New York: D. Appleton-Century Company, Incorporated.
Waters, R. H. (1934). The law of effect as a principle of learning. Psychological Bulletin, 31(6), 408–425.
Nevin, J. A. (1999). Analysing Thorndike’s law of effect: The question of stimulus-response bonds. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 72(3), 447–450.
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Papageorgi, I. (2018). Thorndike’s Law of Effect. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1049-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1049-1
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