Edwin Locke

Edwin A. Locke (born May 15, 1938) is an American psychologist and a pioneer of goal-setting theory. He is a retired Dean's Professor of Motivation and Leadership at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he was also affiliated with the Department of Psychology. According to the Association for Psychological Science, "Locke is the most published organizational psychologist in the history of the field. His pioneering research has advanced and enriched our understanding of work motivation and job satisfaction. Goal-setting theory, developed based on decades of work with Gary Latham is arguably the most widely validated theory in industrial-organizational psychology." “His 1976 chapter on job satisfaction continues to be one of the most highly-cited pieces of work in the field."

Locke is a proponent of capitalism and, in agreement with the philosopher Ayn Rand, has argued that capitalism is both practical and moral, the only system capable of sustained wealth creation, and an expression of individual rights. He was personally acquainted with Rand.

Locke has also been a critic of the concept of emotional intelligence.