Which principle, formulated by Thorndike, states that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences become more likely to recur?

Study for the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) Grades K-6 Test. Use our flashcards and multiple choice questions to boost your teaching skills. Prepare confidently for success!

Multiple Choice

Which principle, formulated by Thorndike, states that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences become more likely to recur?

Explanation:
Consequences shape future behavior. When a behavior is followed by a satisfying outcome, that behavior becomes more likely to occur again. This is Thorndike's Law of Effect, based on his puzzle-box experiments with cats showing that actions leading to escape and food are repeated, while those followed by frustration are not. The principle helps explain why positive reinforcement—like praise or rewards after a task—encourages the same behavior to happen again. The other terms don’t capture this specific idea as precisely: they describe different concepts or aren’t the established name for this learning principle.

Consequences shape future behavior. When a behavior is followed by a satisfying outcome, that behavior becomes more likely to occur again. This is Thorndike's Law of Effect, based on his puzzle-box experiments with cats showing that actions leading to escape and food are repeated, while those followed by frustration are not. The principle helps explain why positive reinforcement—like praise or rewards after a task—encourages the same behavior to happen again. The other terms don’t capture this specific idea as precisely: they describe different concepts or aren’t the established name for this learning principle.

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