In one of Thorndike's puzzle boxes, a door would fall open when a cat stepped on a treadle, thus allowing the cat to reach food outside the box.Eventually the cat would step on the treadle as soon as it was put into the box.Thorndike concluded that .
A)the reasoning ability of cats is quite remarkable
B)treadle stepping increased because it had a "satisfying effect"
C)the treadle is a CS for stepping
D)learning meant connecting the treadle with freedom and food

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thorndike's conclusion was that the cat learned to step on the treadle because this behavior had a "satisfying effect", meaning it led to the reward of food outside the box. This is a key aspect of his theory of trial-and-error learning, which suggests that behaviors are strengthened or weakened based on the consequences they produce.

In One of Thorndike's Puzzle Boxes, a Door Would Fall