Observational learning

To employ Thorndike?s work would be most wise for a first year teacher, such as Mrs. Altier. By recognizing that humans are driven by their native needs and learned wants, Thordike?s work could help her to develop a system of rewards that kept her students motivated and engaged. By creating an environment that provided numerous opportunities for reward, she would encourage both positive responses of increased studiousness and motivation. If she were to not reward adverse behavior, ostensibly, that behavior would decrease. Though she would have to punish bad behaviors, by necessity, Thorndike?s work would show her that excessive punishment would lead to more bad behavior though this runs contrary to the accepted view of discipline.