A woodchuck tries to crack a walnut shell in two different ways-with his paws and with his teeth.The last method worked and the first did not,hence the woodchuck will be more likely to rely on his teeth for splitting the next nut.This observation illustrates the:
A)discrimination principle.
B)law of practice.
C)law of effect.
D)Premack principle.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The observation described in the scenario is a classic example of the law of effect. This states that behaviors that are followed by positive consequences (in this case, the successful cracking of a nut) are more likely to be repeated in the future. Therefore, the woodchuck is more likely to use the method that was successful (using his teeth) again in the future. The other choices are not applicable in this scenario. The discrimination principle refers to the ability to distinguish between different stimuli, the law of practice refers to how repetition of a behavior leads to improved performance, and the Premack principle refers to using a more preferred behavior to reinforce a less preferred behavior.

A Woodchuck Tries to Crack a Walnut Shell in Two