Köhler concluded that the chimps had not arrived at these methods through trial-and-error ( which American psychologist Edward Thorndike had claimed to be the basis of all animal learning , through his law of effect ) , but rather that they had an insight , in which , having realized the answer , they proceeded to carry it out in a way that was , in Köhler 's words , `` unwaveringly purposeful . ''
Köhler concluded that the chimps had not arrived at these methods through trial-and-error ( which American psychologist Edward Thorndike claimed to be the basis of all animal learning , through his law of effect ) . Rather , they had an insight ( also sometimes known as an `` aha experience '' ) .