5.8 : 效果律

B. F. Skinner built the theory of operant conditioning on the concept of the law of effect, proposed by Edward Thorndike.

Thorndike placed a hungry cat in a box with a piece of fish outside.

The cat had to learn to open the latch to escape and get the food. Initially, it made many ineffective responses. Eventually, it accidentally stepped on the lever that released the door bolt.

On subsequent trials, the cat made fewer random movements and quickly learned to step on the lever to open the door.

Thorndike's law of effect states that behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes, like a child being praised for doing homework, are strengthened, while those followed by unsatisfying outcomes, such as a child being scolded for drawing on the walls, are weakened.

Likewise, B. F. Skinner developed the Skinner box, an apparatus used to study operant conditioning by allowing rats to learn that pressing a lever results in a food reward.