THORNDIKE
1. Thorndike invented a puzzle box in order to study operant conditioning in cats. He would place hungry cats in a box and the only way out was to pull a latch, once out the cats were given acess to food which is a positive re-inforcer. He found out that the cats would solve it faster and faster everytime.
2. Responses closely followed by satisfaction, will become attached to the situation and more likely to re-occur when the situation is repeated. If the situation is followed by discomfort the connection to the situation will become weaker and therefore less likely to occur.
3.Stimulus response associations are strengthened through repetition
SKINNER
1. Behavior is based on past behavior and its consequences.
2. It makes the behavior occur much more frequently
3. Makes the behavior occur less frequently
4. Positive reinforcement is say the animal is rewarded for doing such an action, another is when they do not do a certain action they are punished. Positive punishment is say introducing a loud noise to decrease the frequency of an action, negative punishment would be taking away a dogs toy.
Works Cited
http://www.psychology.uiowa.edu/faculty/wasserman/glossary/Puzzle.html
http://psychology.about.com/od/lindex/g/lawofeffect.htm
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/skinner.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operant_conditioning
