Thorndike!

A cat is placed in a "puzzle-box." The door of the box is held by a simple latch. Outside the cage is a piece of salmon on a dish. The cat moves around the cage trying to find a way out. The cat moves to the part of the cage closest to the salmon, and begins extending its paws through the bars toward the fish. The cat reaches more and more vigorously, and begins scratching at the bars. After a while these responses cease, and the cat begins to actively move around the cage. A few minutes later, it bumps against the latch. The door opens and the cat scampers out and eats the fish. The cat is placed back in the box and a new piece of fish is placed on the dish. The cat goes through the same responses as before and eventually, bumps into the latch once more. This is repeated again and again. Gradually the cat stops extending its paws through the bars and spends more of its time near the latch. Then the cat begins to direct almost all of its activity near the latch. Ultimately, the cat develops a quick and efficient series of movements for opening the latch. The Law of Effect states that if you do something that brings you positive effects, then you will keep on doing what brought you positive effects, and what brings negative effects then you will stop doing. The law of exercise states that if you want to learn an action that brings positive effects, you won’t learn by only looking but by practicing constantly. The more you practice the better you get to it.