Joseph Thorndike

Joseph Thorndike was an American psychologist known for his work in educational psychology and the development of learning theories. He is famous for Thorndike's Law of Effect, which suggests that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by negative outcomes are less likely to occur. This principle laid the groundwork for behaviorism and emphasized the importance of reinforcement in learning processes. Thorndike's research also included practical applications in education, influencing how teaching and assessment methods evolved over time. His contributions helped shape our understanding of how people learn.