Which option is NOT a Thorndike's law of learning?

Which option is NOT a Thorndike's law of learning?

• A. Readiness
• B. Effect
• C. Motivation
• D. Recency

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is distinguishing Thorndike’s laws of learning from other related factors. Thorndike described three core laws that explain how actions are strengthened or weakened: Readiness, which means learning tends to occur when the learner is prepared to act and the situation supports the correct response; the Law of Effect, which states that a response followed by a satisfying outcome is likely to be repeated while one followed by an unsatisfying outcome is less likely; and the Law of Exercise, which emphasizes that practice reinforces learning and disuse weakens it. Some discussions also mention the Law of Recency, which notes that more recently performed responses can be reinforced more quickly, but this is not one of the original three. Motivation, while essential to a learner’s engagement and willingness to perform tasks, is not categorized as one of Thorndike’s laws and is not a named principle describing the automatic relationship between stimulus, action, and consequence.

The main idea here is distinguishing Thorndike’s laws of learning from other related factors. Thorndike described three core laws that explain how actions are strengthened or weakened: Readiness, which means learning tends to occur when the learner is prepared to act and the situation supports the correct response; the Law of Effect, which states that a response followed by a satisfying outcome is likely to be repeated while one followed by an unsatisfying outcome is less likely; and the Law of Exercise, which emphasizes that practice reinforces learning and disuse weakens it. Some discussions also mention the Law of Recency, which notes that more recently performed responses can be reinforced more quickly, but this is not one of the original three. Motivation, while essential to a learner’s engagement and willingness to perform tasks, is not categorized as one of Thorndike’s laws and is not a named principle describing the automatic relationship between stimulus, action, and consequence.