What does Thorndike's Law of Effect state?

• A. Rewards decrease response frequency
• B. Responses that produce rewards increase frequency
• C. Any response becomes less likely after reinforcement
• D. Only punishments increase behavior frequency

Answer: (B)

When a behavior is followed by a satisfying outcome, that behavior is more likely to happen again in the same situation. Thorndike's Law of Effect captures this idea: rewards or pleasant consequences strengthen a behavior, making it more frequent in the future, while unpleasant outcomes tend to weaken it. In practice, giving a dog a treat after a desired action increases the chances that the action will be repeated. This is why the statement that responses that produce rewards increase frequency is the best fit. The other ideas—rewards reducing frequency, reinforcement causing all responses to weaken, or punishments increasing behavior—don’t align with how reinforcement shapes behavior.