Final answer:
The statement provided is false; according to the law of effect, behavior followed by positive consequences is actually strengthened, not weakened.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the law of effect, behavior that is followed by positive consequences is not weakened but is actually strengthened. This principle was first proposed by Edward Thorndike and later expanded upon by B. F. Skinner in his work on operant conditioning. Essentially, when behavior is followed by satisfying consequences, it is more likely to be repeated, while behavior followed by unpleasant consequences is less likely to be repeated. Thus, behaviors followed by positive consequences, such as rewards or reinforcements, tend to increase in frequency, and those followed by negative consequences tend to decrease in frequency.
An example of the law of effect in everyday life can be seen in employment. We go to work and perform our duties in exchange for pay, which is a positive consequence that reinforces our behavior of going to work. If that payment were to cease, our behavior in going to the job is likely to change.