Edward Thorndike Theory

1. EDWARD LEE THORNDIKE
(1874-1949)
By: MARY KRISTINE M. LUMANOG

2. Edward L. Thorndike
Table of contents
01 02
Theory of Connectionism
03
Three Laws of Connectionism
04
Additional Laws and Principles
05
Implications

3. Edward Lee Thorndike
(August 31,1874- August 9, 1949) was an American Psychologist born in Lowell,
Massachusetts. He earned his master’s degree at Harvard University and his Ph.D. at
Columbia University. He spent nearly his entire career at Teachers College in
Columbia University. In 1912, he was recognized for his accomplishments and elected
as president of the American Psychological Association. In 1934, the American
Association for the Advancement of Science elected Thorndike as the only social
scientist to head this professional organization. His work on comparative psychology
and the learning process led to the Theory of Connectionism and help lay the
scientific foundation for educational psychology.

4. It is a theory of learning that posits that learning is the result of a
connection between a stimulus (a thing or occurrence that
influences or brings about an activity or result) and a response (a
reaction or outcome) and such connection is strengthened if
response is rewarded and weakened if response is unrewarded.
What is Connectionism
Theory?

5. The Law of Readiness
The Law of Exercise
The Law of Effect
Three Laws of Connectionism
Theory

6. Law of Readiness
Learning takes place when an action
tendency is aroused through preparatory
adjustment, set or attitudes. This means that
learning takes place when the learner is
prepared to learn. No amount of efforts can
make the child learn if the child is not ready to
learn. If the child is ready to learn, he/she
learns more quickly, effectively and with greater
satisfaction than if he/she is not ready to learn.

7. The law draws the attention of teacher to the
motivation of the child. The teacher must consider the
psycho-biological readiness the students to ensure
successful learning experiences. Curriculum Learning
experiences should be according to the mental level
of maturity of the child. If this is not so, there will be
poor comprehension and readiness may vanish.
Educational Implications of Law of Readiness:

8. Law of Exercise
● This law explains the role of practice in
learning. According to this law, learning becomes
efficient through practice or exercise. This law is
further split into two parts — Law of use and Law
of disuse. It states that connections between a
stimulus and response grow stronger when use
and becomes weaker when not in use. This law
implies that one learns by doing and one cannot
learn a skill by watching.
●

9. Educational Implications of Law of Exercise
Exercise occupies an important place in learning.
Teacher must repeat, give sufficient drill in some subjects like
mathematics, drawing, music or vocabulary for fixing material
in the minds of the students. Thorndike later revised this law
of exercise and accordingly it is accepted that practice does
bring improvement learning but in itself is not sufficient.
Always practice must be followed by some reward or
satisfaction to the learner. The learner must be motivated to
learn.

10. Law of Effect
This is the most important of Thorndike’s
laws, which states that when a connection between
stimulus and response is accompanied by satisfying
state, its strength is increased. On the other hand,
when a connection is accompanied by an annoying
state of affairs, its strength is reduced or weakened. In
other words, the responses that produce satisfaction or
comfort for the learner are strengthened and
responses that produce annoyance or discomfort for
the learner are weakened.

11. This law signifies the use of reinforcement or
feedback in learning. This implies that learning trials
must be associated with satisfying consequences. The
teacher can use rewards to strengthen certain
responses and punishment to weaken others. However,
the use of reward is more desirable than the use of
punishment in school learning.
Educational Implications of Law of Effect

12. Additional Laws and Principles
1. Multiple Response or Varied Reaction- learning involves responding in a variety of ways if the
first response is not immediately reinforced or satisfied.
2. Set or Attitude- learning is guided by a total set or attitude of the organism, which determines not
only what the person will do but what will satisfy or annoy him.
3. Partial Activity or Prepotency of Elements- learner reacts selectively to the situation and neglects
the other features or elements which may be irrelevant or non-essential.
4. Law of Response by Analogy- the individual makes use of old experience or acquisitions while
learning a new situation.
5. Law of Associative Shifting- we may get response of which a learner is capable, associated with
any other situations to which he is sensitive.

13. In brief, implications of the Theory are:
1. Easier aspect towards difficult side
2. Trial and Error Method
3. Motivation
4. Practice
5. Habits
6. The effects of rewards and punishment
7. Helpful in changing the behavior
8. Control negative emotions
9. Improve teaching methods
10. Pay more emphasis on oral drill work

14. Thank you!