Why Did Thorndike Conclude That His Cats Learned by Strengthening

question 162

Multiple Choice

Why did Thorndike conclude that his cats learned by strengthening certain response tendencies, rather than by gaining an understanding or insight?

• A) The cats were only able to solve the puzzle boxes with assistance.
• B) The cats escaped the box equally rapidly, regardless of whether or not they were given positive reinforcements.
• C) The cats took a long time to escape from the puzzle box the first time but were quick on all later trials.
• D) The cats increased their speed of escaping from one trial to the next gradually, not suddenly.

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Definitions:

Sitting Up

The physical action of moving from a lying or slouching position to an upright posture, often indicating readiness or alertness.

Object Permanence

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be observed, a concept developed during infancy.

Peek-a-Boo

A game played with young children involving hiding and suddenly reappearing, aiming to invoke surprise and delight.

Hide and Seek

A classic children's game where players hide and one or more players seek to find them.