But eventually, and accidentally, they pressed the lever that opened the door and exited to their prize, a scrap of fish. At first the cats scratched, bit, and swatted haphazardly, without any idea of how to get out. In his research Thorndike (1898) observed cats who had been placed in a “puzzle box” from which they tried to escape ( Note 7.21 “Video Clip: Thorndike’s Puzzle Box”). Thorndike (1874–1949) was the first scientist to systematically study operant conditioning.

How Reinforcement and Punishment Influence Behavior: The Research of Thorndike and Skinner