In a series of studies, Thorndike put hungry cats into specially constructed cages called ''puzzle boxes.'' There was a plate of food just outside the cage where the cats could see and smell it. At the end of his studies, Thorndike concluded that the cats:
A)were able to escape so quickly because of their insight and reasoning abilities.
B)were classically conditioned to fear the puzzle box.
C)were classically conditioned to salivate at the sight of the puzzle box.
D)used trial and error to escape from the puzzle box.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thorndike's studies showed that the cats used trial and error to escape from the puzzle box. They tried different actions until they accidentally hit the lever that opened the cage door. Over time, the cats learned to associate the correct action with the reward of getting out of the cage and accessing the food. This led to the development of Thorndike's Law of Effect, which states that behaviors followed by positive consequences are more likely to be repeated in the future.

In a Series of Studies, Thorndike Put Hungry Cats into Specially