Final answer:
B. F. Skinner is most closely associated with operant conditioning, a type of learning where behavior is shaped by consequences like reinforcement and punishment. His creation of the Skinner box facilitated the study of behavior modification, cementing his place in the history of psychology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The psychologist most closely associated with the study of operant conditioning was B. F. Skinner. Operant conditioning is a type of learning where behavior is controlled by consequences, which include rewards and punishments.
B. F. Skinner, an American psychologist and behaviorist, conducted extensive research on the effects of reinforcement and punishment on behavior. Skinner's work led to the development of the operant conditioning chamber, commonly known as the Skinner box, which became a crucial tool in behavioral studies. In these studies, animals, like rats, would associate certain behaviors, such as pressing a lever, with outcomes like receiving food, an example of positive reinforcement.
Skinner's research played a significant role in the behaviorist movement, which emphasized the study of observable behavior over unobservable mental processes. His findings on how behavior is shaped by its consequences have had a profound impact on both psychology and education.