Who is the psychologist primarily associated with operant conditioning?

B.F. Skinner is the psychologist primarily associated with operant conditioning, which is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Skinner's research focused on how the consequences of an action influence the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. He introduced concepts such as reinforcement and punishment, illustrating how positive or negative outcomes can shape behavior.

Skinner conducted experiments using devices known as Skinner boxes, where animals, such as rats or pigeons, learned to perform certain behaviors to receive a reward, like food, or to avoid an unpleasant stimulus. This framework of behavior modification became fundamental in both psychological research and practical applications, such as education and behavioral therapy.

In contrast, the other psychologists listed have made significant contributions to the field but are not primarily associated with operant conditioning. Sigmund Freud is known for psychoanalysis and the unconscious mind; Albert Bandura is renowned for social learning theory and the concept of observational learning; and John Watson is recognized as a founder of behaviorism, primarily focusing on classical conditioning rather than operant conditioning.