Edward Thorndike Biography
Born as | Edward Lee Thorndike |
Occup. | Psychologist |
From | USA |
Born | August 31, 1874 Williamsburg, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Died | August 9, 1949 Montrose, New York |
Aged | 74 years |
Early Life as well as Education
Edward Lee Thorndike was born on August 31, 1874, in Williamsburg, Massachusetts, USA, to Edward Roberts Hebborne Thorndike and also Abbie Ladd Thorndike. He was increased in a highly informed as well as nurturing atmosphere, as his papa was a Methodist preacher and his mom was an instructor. Thorndike participated in the Roxbury Latin School in Boston and also completed his B.S. in English Literature and Mathematics from Wesleyan University in 1895.
Influenced by the jobs of
William James, Thorndike went after psychology at Harvard University under the supervision of James himself. He was deeply influenced by James's groundbreaking suggestions and research methods. In 1898, he made his Master's Degree from Harvard and also subsequently signed up at Columbia University, where he completed his Ph.D. under the famous psychologist James McKeen Cattell in the list below year.
Academic Career and also Research
Thorndike's academic career started as a teacher at the Women's College of Western Reserve University in 1899. Ultimately, he returned to Columbia University and was selected as a Professor of Educational Psychology in 1904. He stayed at Columbia for the remainder of his profession, retiring in 1940 as Professor Emeritus.
Thorndike's research concentrated on the scientific research of learning, habits, as well as education and learning. He was a leader in relative psychology, as he examined the learning and also behavior of animals to clarify human cognitive procedures. His prominent challenge box experiments on cats in the late 19th and also very early 20th centuries gained him around the world recognition. His job led him to create the 'Law of Effect,' which states that actions complied with by benefits are more probable to be duplicated, while those followed by adverse effects are much less most likely to be repeated.
Thorndike was an advocate for objective testing as well as established widely-used capacity tests to determine intelligence and abilities that can be uniformly applied to various education and learning and job setups. His study in instructional psychology laid the foundation for modern-day theories of discovering as well as analysis.
Considerable Contributions
Throughout his career, Thorndike made substantial payments to the field of psychology, which additionally had a long-term influence on education and learning and instructional ideology. A few of his most notable concepts and accomplishments include:
1. The Law of Effect: As stated before, this legislation states that actions adhered to by rewards are more probable to be repeated, while those complied with by adverse repercussions are much less likely to be repeated. This principle is widely acknowledged as the basis for operant conditioning, which was later on expanded upon by renowned behaviorist B.F. Skinner.
2. Connectionism: Thorndike recommended the concept of 'Connectionism,' which emphasized the importance of organizations in between stimulations and responses in discovering. He thought that knowing is a result of forming more powerful links between these stimulations and actions with time.
3. Measurement and also analysis in education and learning: Thorndike played a pivotal role in the growth of standardized examinations for measuring intellectual abilities, abilities, and also various other elements of human knowledge. His work in this area laid the structure for the growth of modern intelligence examinations and also ability analyses.
4. Enhanced mentor approaches: As a supporter of applying clinical principles to education and learning, Thorndike's research study notified as well as enhanced mentor methods as well as educational program layouts throughout the United States. He was a solid supporter for evidence-based mentor methods and also believed that educators need to constantly seek to review and also fine-tune their training techniques.
Later On Years as well as Death
After relinquishing Columbia University in 1940, Edward Thorndike continued his research study and also consulting work throughout the 1940s. He continued to be energetic in the field of psychology and also was taken into consideration an eminent figure until his death. On August 9, 1949, Thorndike died in Montrose, New York, leaving behind an exceptional legacy in psychology as well as education and learning.
Edward Thorndike's job has actually had an extensive and enduring impact on psychology, education, and also the understanding of the human mind. His cutting-edge concepts and strenuous clinical technique provided a blueprint for numerous mental concepts and also educational methods that are still in operation today.
Our collection contains 25 quotes who is written / told by Edward.
Related authors: William James (Philosopher), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)
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