Thorndike’s law of effect states that: a. Behaviors take longer to disappear through the process of extinction when they have been acquired or maintained through partial, rather than continuous, reinforcement.
b. Organisms are capable of forming cognitive maps, or mental representations of their physical surroundings, without being aware of the process.
c. Behaviors are more likely to be repeated when followed by pleasurable outcomes and less likely to be repeated when followed by unpleasant outcomes.
d. Organisms have a tendency to revert to instinctual behaviors after a behavior pattern has been learned.
The correct answer is: c. Behaviors are more likely to be repeated when followed by pleasurable outcomes and less likely to be repeated when followed by unpleasant outcomes.
Explanation: Thorndike’s law of effect emphasizes that responses followed by satisfying or pleasurable consequences are more likely to be repeated in the future, while responses followed by negative or unpleasant outcomes are less likely to recur. This principle laid the foundation for later behavioral theories, including operant conditioning. If you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!