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) the discrimination principle.
B) the Law of Practice.
C) the Law of Effect.
D) the Premack principle.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The described observation is an example of the Law of Effect, which states that behaviors that are followed by desired consequences are more likely to be repeated in the future. In this case, the woodchuck's successful use of its teeth to crack the nut resulted in a desired outcome, leading to an increased likelihood of using its teeth again in the future. The other options are not applicable in this scenario.

A Woodchuck Tries to Crack a Walnut Shell in Two