Who proposed the connection between stimulus and response in psychology?

• A. Sullivan
• B. Watson
• C. Thorndike
• D. Skinner

Answer: (C)

Thorndike is recognized for introducing the foundational idea of the connection between stimulus and response through his work on learning theory, particularly with his Law of Effect. This principle states that responses followed by satisfying outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by unpleasant outcomes are less likely to occur again. His experiments with animals, notably with cats in puzzle boxes, illustrated how behavior is shaped by its consequences.

This emphasis on the relationship between stimulus (the puzzle box and its challenges) and response (the cat's actions to escape) laid the groundwork for future behavioral theories. While Watson and Skinner expanded on these ideas within the domains of behaviorism, Thorndike's earlier research was pivotal in establishing the initial understanding of how stimuli impact behavior.