<P> B.F. Skinner ( 1904 -- 1990 ) is often referred to as the father of operant conditioning , and his work is frequently cited in connection with this topic . His book `` The Behavior of Organisms '' , published in 1938 , initiated his lifelong study of operant conditioning and its application to human and animal behavior . Following the ideas of Ernst Mach , Skinner rejected Thorndike 's reference to unobservable mental states such as satisfaction , building his analysis on observable behavior and its equally observable consequences . </P>
<P> B.F. Skinner ( 1904 -- 1990 ) is often referred to as the father of operant conditioning , and his work is frequently cited in connection with this topic . His book `` The Behavior of Organisms '' , published in 1938 , initiated his lifelong study of operant conditioning and its application to human and animal behavior . Following the ideas of Ernst Mach , Skinner rejected Thorndike 's reference to unobservable mental states such as satisfaction , building his analysis on observable behavior and its equally observable consequences . </P>
who demonstrated that a reflex could be conditioned to a neutral stimulus
who demonstrated that a reflex could be conditioned to a neutral stimulus
B.F. Skinner
B.F. Skinner