42. Cats received a fish reward whenever they maneuvered themselves out of an enclosed puzzle box. With successive trials, the cats escaped from the box with increasing speed. This illustrates what law?

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Social Studies

Darwin Sheppard

14 May, 12:05

42. Cats received a fish reward whenever they maneuvered themselves out of an enclosed puzzle box. With successive trials, the cats escaped from the box with increasing speed. This illustrates what law?

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Paige Hurst · Answer 1

This illustrates the law of effect.

Explanation:

According to Edward Thorndike's law of effect, if a response is followed by satisfaction, it becomes more likely to happen recurrently. Conversely, if a response is followed by dissatisfaction, it is less likely to be repeated. As we know, that same principle was further developed by B. F. Skinner in behavioral psychology. In the case we are studying, the cats learned that a satisfying reward awaited them when they found their way out of the box. That is why they not only repeated the behavior, but also did it faster.