Edward Thorndike was an influential psychologist often referred to as the founder of modern educational psychology. He was perhaps best known for his famous puzzle box experiments with cats, which led to the development of the law of effect.

A basic understanding of behaviorism can be gained by examining the history of four of the most influential psychologists who contributed to the behaviorism: Ivan Pavlov, Edward Thorndike, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner.

Thorndike graduated from Wesleyan University in 1895. He studied animal behaviour with William James at Harvard University (1895–97) and with James McKeen Cattell at Columbia University, where he received his Ph. D. (1898) and where he spent most of his career.