Helwig NCE & CPCE Human Growth and Development Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Prep

The Law of Effect explains how consequences shape future behavior: actions followed by satisfying outcomes tend to be repeated, while those followed by unpleasant outcomes are less likely to occur again. This idea was first formulated by Edward L. Thorndike, based on his puzzle-box experiments with cats, where successful escapes were reinforced by rewards and became more likely over time. Thorndike’s principle laid the groundwork for later ideas in operant conditioning, which B.F. Skinner later systematized. Pavlov’s work on classical conditioning and Watson’s behaviorism are separate lines of study.