Edward Thorndike

Edward Thorndike was an American psychologist known for his work on learning and behavior. He is best known for the "law of effect," which states that behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by unpleasant outcomes are less likely to be repeated. His experiments with animals, particularly cats in puzzle boxes, demonstrated how trial and error can lead to learning. Thorndike's ideas laid the groundwork for later behaviorists, influencing education and psychology by emphasizing observable behavior over internal thoughts and feelings.