Law Of Effect In Psychology 2024: Definition & Example

The result of our actions could determine how likely we are to repeat said action.  Therefore, if an action causes a desirable effect we are likely to repeat it. This theory, the Law of effect by Edward Thorndike, is a vital part of learning. 

There are several ways that you could be applying the law of effect in your home, at school, at work, or for personal projects. The law of effect could also help neurodivergent develop some important skills.

Discovery Of The Law Of Effect 

Thorndike studied the relationship between stimulus and response using animals. A noteworthy experiment^[2] in Thorndike’s study is the study of the cat in the puzzle box.  

Here, Thorndike places a hungry cat in a box that can only be opened by pressing a lever.  He proceeds to place a piece of fish outside the puzzle box. To get to the fish,  the cats would try various ways of getting out of the box till it gets to the lever. Once the cat is out of the box and has gotten to the fish, Thorndike places it back in the puzzle box and repeats the process. 

The time it takes the cat to get to the lever and open the cage becomes progressively shorter as the learning process is reinforced by the positive result of getting to the fish. 

The results of these experiments led Thorndike to publish his book titled Animal intelligence in 1911^[3]

Parts Of The Law Of Effect

The original law of effect as proposed by Thorndike has two parts:

• Actions leading to favorable results are more likely to be repeated.  Just like the cat in the box is more likely to reach for the lever in the box because that grants its freedom and access to the fish. 
• Actions leading to unfavorable results are less likely to occur again. For instance, staying up late at night might cause you to wake up late the next day and miss an important appointment. The negative result of missing your appointment might make you less likely to go to bed late. 

Therefore, the greater the reward or discomfort resulting from an action, the greater its effects on behavior.

However, Thorndike realized that both parts of the law were not equally valid and modified it in later publications in 1932 and 1935^[4]. While positive reinforcement strengthens the relationship between stimulus and response, negative reinforcement only weakens it a bit. He further observed that response after punishment could become unpredictable^[5] in a particular situation.

Influence Of Law Of Effect 

The law of effect is an essential aspect of behavioral psychology. It has been the inspiration for lots of psychological theories such as operant conditioning^[6] by B.  F.  Skinner. 

In developing his theory, Skinner used a version of the puzzle box called the operant conditioning chamber or Skinner box. Skinner postulated that there are four methods^[7] of operant conditioning which are:

• Positive reinforcement. The introduced stimulus to encourage specific behaviors
• Positive punishment. Introduces an undesired stimulus to discourage the action. 
• Negative reinforcement. Removal of the undesired stimulus to encourage the action.
• Negative punishment. Removal of the desired stimulus to discourage the action.

Choosing a single technique for conditioning can be daunting. Each conditioning method is valid and its effectiveness will depend on the person or animal you are trying to train.

The law of effect and operant conditioning are also useful in training exercises for several occasions such as workouts, jobs, and for your pets.

In choosing a reinforcement for the act,  you would need to consider what best appeases your trainee. For instance, money is a great motivator for most people but money does not work as an excellent reinforcer when training your pets. In that case, pet treats would work fine. Your pet will be more willing to repeat the behaviors that got him treats in the first place to get more treats.

Examples Of Law Of Effect 

Thorndike’s law of effect could be described as a psychological breakthrough influencing several principles of learning that came after. Its application is diverse and examples can be seen in various aspects of your life such as school, work, and family. 

Reinforcement is still an essentially therapeutic technique used by psychologists and mental health professionals today. Examples of law of effect in your daily life include:

At School 

Your teacher might hand out gold stars to pupils who turn in their assignments on time. The gold stars serve as positive reinforcement for pupils to turn in their homework when due.

Giving a high five or generous praise to students that participate actively in class. Students might appreciate the teacher’s appreciation and be motivated to do better.

In The Family 

Parents can reinforce good behaviors in their kids such as good manners and playing nicely by offering praise or giving a thumbs up.

You can also get your kids to do their chores by offering special privileges. If the special privileges you offer are desirable to your kids, they will try to carry out their chores to earn them.

At Work 

Positive reinforcements at work such as a pay raise or bonus can motivate workers to carry out their duties efficiently. 

Money is not the only positive reinforcement in the workplace. Intrinsic positive reinforcement such as praise and empowerment can also boost efficiency in the workplace. 

Fitness And Workouts 

If you are starting a new fitness routine,  sticking to it can be tedious. To help you stay on track, you could mark specific milestones with positive reinforcements. For instance, buying that gorgeous dress you have been eyeing when you lose 10 pounds. 

ABT Therapy 

The law of effect is a crucial part of Applied Behavioral Therapy (ABT) for autistic kids. ABT works to improve specific skills for your kids such as speech,  social skills, academics, memory, and focus. ABT could also help reduce problem behaviors.

The mental health expert first identifies the goal and chooses a reward that is meaningful to the kid. Each time the child completes the desired action, they are rewarded. Therefore, this act becomes part of the kid with time.

Conclusion 

The law of effect postulated by Thorndike says that actions leading to desirable outcomes are likely to be repeated while a negative outcome often discourages the action. 

Thorndike experimented with animals, especially cats, to observe how quickly they learn to escape from a puzzle cage by trial and error. His experiments led him to postulate the law of effect.

Several psychological theories including Skinner’s operant conditioning were influenced by Thorndike’s law of effect. The law of effect has several applications in the workplace, at home, school, and your personal life. 

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