Melioration theory in behavioral psychology is a theoretical algorithm that predicts the matching law.
[1] Melioration theory is used as an explanation for why an organism makes choices based on the rewards or reinforcers it receives.
The principle of melioration states that animals will invest increasing amounts of time and/or effort into whichever alternative is better.
[2] Melioration theory accounts for many of the choices that organisms make when presented with two variable interval schedules.
In making a choice between options, living organisms need not maximize expected payoff as classical economic theory posits.