Final answer:
B.F. Skinner was a pivotal figure in behaviorism and is recognized for his development of operant conditioning, which highlighted external factors like reinforcement and punishment in behavior modification.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most forceful leader of behaviorism who coined the term "Operant conditioning" is b. B.F. Skinner.B.F. Skinner, an American psychologist, was a prominent figure in the behaviorist movement, emphasizing the role of external reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior. His development of the operant conditioning chamber, or the Skinner box, allowed the systematic study of modifying behavior using these principles.
Skinner's work was influential in the transition of psychology towards an objective science, relying on observable and measurable behavior, rather than on unobservable mental processes. His strict behaviorist viewpoint posited that the environment solely shaped behavior, dismissing biological determinism and emphasizing learned behaviors from prior reinforcements.