<p>Rats and other creatures are curious and like to explore their environments. When the action is easy, such as a large lever on the wall, most animals will find it quickly, and if the action is reinforced, easily demonstrate operant conditioning. In the case where the action is hard, such as Thorndike putting cats in puzzle boxes and observing how long it took them to escape, the motivation to find the solution comes from the animal seeking to escape: <a href="https://www.simplypsychology.org/edward-thorndike.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.simplypsychology.org/edward-thorndike.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-29T10:37:53.327Z
2019-04-29T10:37:53.327Z
Cameron Brick
<p>We're taught early on that the rat is placed within the following setup.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/LFqGA.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LFqGA.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>In that diagram, there are no potential distractions for the rat. There's only a lever.</p>

<p>1) Does the rat simply 'discover' the lever, or did researchers show the rat how it's done the first time?</p>

<p>2) In an environment with many distractions, how would you ensure that the rat pulls the lever for the first time?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-26T12:23:35.343Z
We used to use peanut butter.
StrongBad
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-26T14:38:37.537Z
Rats and mice are pretty curious creatures, they'll sooner or later press on everything.
Bryan Krause
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-26T21:19:18.083Z
@StrongBad - I'd turn your comment into an answer - as an experience expert it's a valuable answer imo
AliceD
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-26T21:57:45.027Z
@AliceD my experience is limited to a summer internship as a undergrad. I was kind of hoping that someone with real experience would step forward.
StrongBad
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-27T07:02:49.643Z
@StrongBad I gotcha, but it's valid answer nonetheless and my hunch is that mediocre answers can draw in other answers. In other words, I would go for it, you've got my vote.
AliceD
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-29T17:53:56.600Z
I just up voted that comment, because, "peanut butter". 
Steven Jeuris
<experimental-psychology><conditioning>
In operant conditioning, how do you get the subject to "pull the lever" for the first time?
ARMATAV
# In operant conditioning, how do you get the subject to "pull the lever" for the first time?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-04-26)

We're taught early on that the rat is placed within the following setup.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/LFqGA.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/LFqGA.png)

In that diagram, there are no potential distractions for the rat. There's only a lever.

1) Does the rat simply 'discover' the lever, or did researchers show the rat how it's done the first time?

2) In an environment with many distractions, how would you ensure that the rat pulls the lever for the first time?

**Tags:** experimental-psychology, conditioning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: We used to use peanut butter.  
> **username_2**: Rats and mice are pretty curious creatures, they'll sooner or later press on everything.  
> **username_3**: @username_1 - I'd turn your comment into an answer - as an experience expert it's a valuable answer imo  
> **username_1**: @username_3 my experience is limited to a summer internship as a undergrad. I was kind of hoping that someone with real experience would step forward.  
> **username_3**: @username_1 I gotcha, but it's valid answer nonetheless and my hunch is that mediocre answers can draw in other answers. In other words, I would go for it, you've got my vote.  
> **username_4**: I just up voted that comment, because, "peanut butter".   

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-04-29. Score: 2

Rats and other creatures are curious and like to explore their environments. When the action is easy, such as a large lever on the wall, most animals will find it quickly, and if the action is reinforced, easily demonstrate operant conditioning. In the case where the action is hard, such as Thorndike putting cats in puzzle boxes and observing how long it took them to escape, the motivation to find the solution comes from the animal seeking to escape: <https://www.simplypsychology.org/edward-thorndike.html>


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