Our Services

Get 15% Discount on your First Order

[rank_math_breadcrumb]

PSY 3421 week 5, 5.2

instructions are included 

·
Respond to at least two (2) peers with 100 words as the minimum peer response

Peer 1: Patyn

Edward Thorndike and Edwin Guthrie had different ideas about how reinforcement works in learning. Thorndike is known for his Law of Effect, which says that if a behavior is followed by something good, it’s more likely to be repeated. On the other hand, if a behavior is followed by something bad, it’s less likely to happen again. He believed that learning happens gradually as behaviors get reinforced over time (Bouton, 2018).

Guthrie had a different take with his Contiguity Theory. He thought that learning happens all at once when a stimulus and response occur together. According to Guthrie, reinforcement isn’t about strengthening the behavior but preventing other behaviors from interfering. He believed that once a behavior is learned in response to a specific stimulus, it sticks right away and doesn’t need repeated reinforcement (Bouton, 2018).

From Thorndike’s point of view, a student who keeps attending lectures in a course they’re struggling in can be explained in several ways:

1.
Hoping for Future Rewards: The student might think that if they keep trying, they’ll eventually get better grades, understand the material more, or feel a sense of achievement. This belief in future positive outcomes can motivate them to stick with it.

2.
Enjoying the Process: The student might genuinely enjoy learning and find satisfaction in gaining knowledge, regardless of their current grades. This intrinsic motivation can be a powerful reinforcement.

3.
External Pressures: Factors like expectations from parents, the need to fulfill academic requirements, or societal norms can push the student to continue attending classes despite doing poorly.

4.
Social Interaction: Being around classmates and engaging in the social aspects of the classroom can provide enough positive reinforcement to keep the student going, even if their grades are low.

While Thorndike believed in reinforcement strengthening behavior over time, Guthrie thought learning happened in one go when a stimulus and response occurred together. Thorndike’s ideas help explain why a student might keep attending a tough class by highlighting the importance of future rewards, intrinsic motivation, external pressures, and social interactions as reinforcing factors.

Reference:

Bouton, M. E. (2018).
Learning and behavior: A contemporary synthesis (2nd ed.). Sinauer Associates.

Peer 2: Natalia

Edward Thorndike and Edwin Guthrie developed distinct theoretical approaches to reinforcement in learning, each contributing uniquely to psychology. Thorndike’s theory, grounded in his “Law of Effect,” posits that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by discomforting consequences are less likely (Bouton, 2016). His experiments, such as those with cats in puzzle boxes, demonstrated how positive outcomes could reinforce behaviors. Thorndike also emphasized the “Law of Exercise,” which states that practice strengthens stimulus-response connections, and the “Law of Readiness,” which involves the learner’s motivation to respond (Bouton, 2016).

In contrast, Guthrie’s “Contiguity Theory” suggests learning occurs through the temporal association of a stimulus and response, proposing that learning happens in one trial (Bouton, 2016). Guthrie believed reinforcement prevents competing responses rather than strengthening behaviors. He distinguished between “movements” (simple responses learned in one trial) and “acts” (complex behaviors requiring practice due to their composition of multiple movements) (Bouton, 2016).

Comparing these theories reveals fundamental differences. Thorndike emphasized reinforcement strengthens behaviors over time, with satisfying outcomes increasing the likelihood of behavior recurrence. For Thorndike, learning is gradual, requiring repetition and reinforcement (Bouton, 2016). However, Guthrie focused on immediate learning through temporal association, arguing that learning occurs in a single trial, with reinforcement preventing competing responses rather than strengthening the behavior itself (Bouton, 2016).

From Thorndike’s perspective, a student might continue attending lectures despite poor performance due to factors related to his laws of learning. The “Law of Effect” suggests previous positive reinforcement, like understanding topics or receiving encouragement, can outweigh negative reinforcement from poor grades. The “Law of Exercise” implies that regular attendance could become a habit, with repetition strengthening the behavior. Finally, the “Law of Readiness” indicates intrinsic solid or extrinsic motivation to succeed or complete the course can drive persistence despite poor performance. In summary, Thorndike would suggest that the student continue to attend lectures because of cumulative positive reinforcements, established habits, and motivational factors that sustain the behavior despite negative reinforcement of poor academic performance.

References

Bouton, M. E. (2016). Learning and Behavior (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press Academic US.

Share This Post

Email
WhatsApp
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Reddit

Order a Similar Paper and get 15% Discount on your First Order

Related Questions

feed back lien

  Nice work presenting the four scales of measurement. Why is it that despite ratio scale being at the highest level of information, is not commonly achieved in research? According to Kline et al. (2005), research aims for interval scale but achieves ordinal level. If I am interested in measuring

Discussion Board

 There are both supporters of and critics of managed care, and the research has been mixed. Discuss at least two pros and cons of managed care. 

discussion board

 Contact a child welfare social worker and interview them about their experiences in their field of practice.  Include these areas in your interview: cultural factors in assessment; legal and policy implications and challenges in practice; and ethical considerations in practice.  Your initial posting should summarize the key points from your

6070-4d

  Post a potential solution to the ethical scenario that draws on ethical leadership and the NASW Code of Ethics. Provide justification for your choices using a specific NASW ethical standard. Additionally, explain the type of power you would utilize in achieving the solution.  (scenario) You have been told that the

Detailed

See attachment Assignment Questions: “What do individuals need to do to be prepared economically for their older years?” · Identify the age that you are starting from and how long this individual will be able to plan for retirement, etc. · Be specific in your responses. Utilize information available on-line,

psych 421

Chapter 5 – Artificially Modeling the mind (200 words) Hello; for this week, please, read chapter 5 and answer the following questions: 1. How do artificial neural network models work alongside neuroscientific techniques to help us study the brain? What do they add to our understanding? 2. Why do you think

feed back prof

 his is a good start but there are some areas that need more detail. I’m going to focus on self-esteem. You mention how others define self-esteem but I’d like you to discuss difficulties in defining self-esteem. Also, how would you define self-esteem after looking at Rosenberg’s scale and others? Do

Discussion

· Discussion 1 · · · Should Russ Saffold intervene to help his team handle this crisis? If so, what type of leadership action should he take, and why? · What leadership actions, if any, should team members take? · What should Russ Saffold do, if anything, to mitigate the

Psychology Can someone help me with my critical thinking homework?

Open Quick Links Quick Links Page Landmarks Content Outline Keyboard Shortcuts Current Location SP25MI Critical Thinking (PHI-300-B) Course Content Week 9 – Conflict Resolution Menu Management Options Course Menu: SP25MI Critical Thinking (PHI-300-B) Getting Started Home Start Here Course Information My Course Annoucements Course Content My Grades Email Collaborate Technical

Psychology Can someone help me with my critical thinking homework?

Open Quick Links Quick Links Page Landmarks Content Outline Keyboard Shortcuts Current Location SP25MI Critical Thinking (PHI-300-B) Course Content Week 9 – Conflict Resolution Menu Management Options Course Menu: SP25MI Critical Thinking (PHI-300-B) Getting Started Home Start Here Course Information My Course Annoucements Course Content My Grades Email Collaborate Technical

world cultures

see attachment  Introduction After the death of Alexander in 323 B.C.E, his empire was divided among his generals. For the next few hundred years the Greek culture settled in the customs of the people it had invaded through Alexander. However, while this was happening the Roman people were starting to

world cultures

see attachment  I nstructions: 1. Look up the consequences of Julius Caesar’s assassination. 2. Come up with a scenario in which Caesar wouldn’t have been assassinated. 3. Think three possibilities of your own and explain why you think those. 4. Submit your assignment in Word and in the space provided

english

see attachment  CRAAP Test: Is Your Source Worthy of Inclusion in Your Essay Research? If you want to succeed at your assignments or research, you should only use quality information. Use the following criteria, also known as the  CRAAP Test, to evaluate any information source critically. Video: Evaluating SourcesLinks to

english

see attachment  CRAAP Test: Is Your Source Worthy of Inclusion in Your Essay Research? If you want to succeed at your assignments or research, you should only use quality information. Use the following criteria, also known as the  CRAAP Test, to evaluate any information source critically. Video: Evaluating SourcesLinks to

english

see attachment  Discussion Etiquette Guidelines: 1. Think and edit before you post. 2. DON’T SHOUT: TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS AGGRESSIVE.  3. Participate, but don’t dominate. 4. Cite your sources. · Imagine sending as a text message one of these guidelines to the main character in a movie who reacted

Psychology

EAB4764 Assessment and Intervention Lecture Engagement: Written Lecture Summary Student Name: Date Completed: Student ID: (41) zoom 0 – YouTube On minute 21:22. After watching the video students must complete. Please answer the questions below in a narrative form. Each answer should be a complete paragraph. 1. What was the main

Psychology

I need help with formatting a disorder fact sheet.  Remove or Replace: Header Is Not Doc Title Neurodiversity Fact Sheet (Include name of the diagnosis in title.) Description of neurodiverse condition: The impact on individuals with the condition: Technique 1 for enhancing learning for (Name the condition and remove this

Discussion Board

 There are both supporters of and critics of managed care, and the research has been mixed. Discuss at least two pros and cons of managed care.