The law of effect was coined by:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4: Thorndike.

Edward Thorndike, a pioneering American psychologist, is credited with coining the "Law of Effect" in the early 20th century. This fundamental principle emerged from his extensive research on animal learning, most famously involving cats in "puzzle boxes." Thorndike observed that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences (like escaping the box and getting food) were more likely to be repeated, while those followed by unpleasant consequences were less likely to recur. This idea laid the groundwork for understanding how consequences influence behavior and formed a crucial basis for later theories of learning, including operant conditioning.

The incorrect option is 1: Skinner.
B.F. Skinner is renowned for developing the theory of operant conditioning, which built upon Thorndike's Law of Effect. While Skinner extensively studied reinforcement and punishment, he did not coin the original "Law of Effect."

The incorrect option is 2: Pavlov.
Ivan Pavlov is most famous for his work on classical conditioning, a different type of learning that involves associating a neutral stimulus with a natural response. His experiments with dogs and salivation are a classic example, but his work focused on elicited behaviors rather than voluntary behaviors influenced by consequences.

The incorrect option is 3: Kohler.
Wolfgang Köhler was a prominent figure in Gestalt psychology, known for his work on insight learning. His experiments with chimpanzees demonstrated that learning could occur through sudden understanding or problem-solving, rather than through trial and error or conditioning. His focus was on cognitive processes and perception, not the law of effect.