Who is credited as the founder of operant conditioning?

The founder of operant conditioning is B. F. Skinner, who developed the concept through his research in the early to mid-20th century. Skinner's work focused on how consequences shape behavior, emphasizing that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are more likely to occur again, while those followed by negative outcomes are less likely to be repeated. He used experimental methods and tools such as the Skinner Box to study animal behavior, systematically demonstrating the principles of reinforcement and punishment.

This framework is foundational in psychology, as it helps explain a variety of learning processes not just in animals but also in humans, influencing fields such as education, behavior modification, and therapeutic practices. Other figures mentioned, like Pavlov, Bandura, and Watson, contributed significantly to psychology, particularly in classical conditioning, social learning theory, and behaviorism respectively, but it is Skinner who is specifically recognized for developing the principles of operant conditioning.