...Madeline Clausell ABA "The consequences of behavior determine the probability that the behavior will occur again" --B. F. Skinner. B. F. Skinner was born March 20, 1904. B.F. Skinner described his Pennsylvania childhood as "warm and stable." As a boy, he enjoyed building and inventing things; a skill he would later use in his own psychological experiments. Skinner married Yvonne Blue in 1936, and the couple went on to have two daughters, Julie and Deborah. Burrhus Frederic (B.F.) Skinner majored in literature at Hamilton College in New York. He went to New York City in the late 1920s to become a writer, but he wasn't very successful. So he decided to go back to school, and went to Harvard to study psychology, since he had always enjoyed observing animal and human behavior. For the most part, the psychology department there was immersed in introspective psychology, and Skinner found himself more and more a behaviorist. He worked in the lab of an experimental biologist, however, and developed behavioral studies of rats. He had always been a tinkerer, and loved building Rube Goldberg contraptions as a kid; he put that skill to use by designing boxes to automatically reward behavior, such as depressing a lever, pushing a button, and so on. His devices were such an improvement on the existing equipment; they've come to be known as Skinner boxes. Skinner received his PhD in 1931. In 1936 he took an academic position at the University of Minnesota where he wrote The Behavior of Organisms...
Words: 779 - Pages: 4
...Born March 20th 1909, B.F Skinner had what he called a “warm and stable” childhood in Pennsylvania. According to Cherry (2013) “As a boy, he enjoyed building and inventing things; a skill he would later use in his own psychological experiments.” After earning his B.A. in English literature in 1926 from Hamilton College, Skinner spent time as a writer. After discovering the writings of Pavlov and Watson, Skinner was inspired to return to school to study psychology. Skinner received his graduate degree from Harvard University. In 1936, Skinner was married to Yvonne Blue and later had two daughters, Julie and Deborah. A crib Skinner designed for his daughter Deborah and named the air bed or the Skinner tender that was intended to help his wife ease some of the parenting duties such as waking in the middle of the night to add blankets to a cold baby, later sparked a backlash of criticism of Skinners work and false rumors about Deborah committing suicide. According to “B.F. Skinner Foundation” (2013) In 1938, Skinner wrote The Behavior of Organisms which “summarizes nearly ten years of research, spanning the years of Skinner's graduate school days at Harvard through his three years as a member of the Society of Fellows.” In 1945, Skinner became the Psychology Department Chair at the University of Indiana. Three years later he joined the psychology department at Harvard University where he remained for the duration of his life. It was at Harvard where Skinner’s inventions helped...
Words: 1070 - Pages: 5
...of individuals should be treated on an individual basis, and shouldn't be compared to that of another person. This includes how people think, act and make decisions. B.F. Skinner is one of the most famous psychologists in the field of human behavioural studies. His theories have helped in our understanding of human behaviour and thus determine humans behaviour and actions. Skinner is primarily known for the establishment of reinforcement and behavioural analysis (Brace abd Byford, 2012, p146) In order to analyse behaviour, Skinner had invented the 'skinner box' (Brace and Byford, 2012, p172) in which controlled the behaviour of a rat or pigeon. This was named operant conditioning. Skinner based his operant conditioning on the foundations of Thorndike's law of effect. Skinner believed that the more a behaviour is reinforced or encouraged, the stronger it gets, whilst behaviour that isn't reinforced, becomes weakend. The majority of Skinners operant conditioning experiments were on pigeons and rats. The pigeons and rats were placed into the skinner box. Here, skinner tested the pigeon and rats ability to perform a specific behaviour in order to recieve a reward. The reward was only ever released when the required behaviour was performed. There is however a negative aspect to this because the results Skinner collected cannot be directly applied to that of a human because they are not the same species. As well as this, the pigeon or rats feelings were not taken into consideration...
Words: 307 - Pages: 2
...Psychology Paper One of the most influential, yet controversial psychologists in the 20th Century was B.F. Skinner. Skinner was born on March 20, 1904 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. As a young boy, he spent his time inventing. A well-known invention from his childhood was used for a door to door business selling elderberries; he built a flotation system which could separate ripe from green berries. His inventions continued on to his high school years when he made a contraption used to spread “green dust” that helped the broom to pick up dirt. Skinner went on to further his education at Hamilton College. There, Skinner decided he would pursue a career in writing. After college, he lacked inspiration for writing and his only works consisted of a few newspaper articles. Instead of writing, he worked as a bookstore clerk where he became enthralled when reading about Pavlov and Watson. Skinner then enrolled in the Psychology Department of Harvard University. Thus began Skinner’s journey into the world of Psychology. While in college, Skinner experimented and uncovered new findings that Pavlov and Watson had missed. Skinner designed an operant chamber, known as a Skinner box. The box has a bar that an animal presses to release a reward of food or water. Inside the box is a device that records these responses. Skinner used the process of shaping during his experiments. Shaping is a procedure in which rewards, such as food, gradually guide the subject’s action towards a certain behavior...
Words: 924 - Pages: 4
...| Skinner Article | | | Behavioral Science | 2/2/2013 | | Teaching and learning from Burrhus Frederic Skinner, theorist and psychologist. You will see his many contributions that will be bought to your attention so that he can receive the recognition one as influential as an American psychologist. Skinner is known for his highly developed theory of operant conditional as well as the invention of the Skinner box. This box allowed the study of subjects' interactions with the environment. His theory on operant conditioning uses punishment and reinforcement to modify behavior. In order to withhold the production of various responses in the operant conditioning the punishments and reinforcements are applied. Those in the research or subjects will then learn what types behavior will receive a reward or will receive punishment. Operant is just one of the theories that he developed. Skinner developed a theory known as superstitious behavior. Using the mechanism to feed caged pigeons for this researched only to show unpredictable intervals then to discover that the birds were associated with feedings and whatever actions they had, by chance, been performing when they received it. He also was able to deduce the behavior that will explain how human belief is in superstition. The football fan wears a lucky socks or lucky shirt to assure that his/her team will win. Skinner's work has given rise to experiments by other researchers. There are those who also have...
Words: 251 - Pages: 2
...Skinner Article BEH/225 3/20/2013 David Stephensen (Instructor) Axia College of University of Phoenix B.F Skinner, theorist and psychologist. He was born in 1904 in a small town in Pennsylvania, breakthrough research in the field of psychology. Skinner was a famous controversial behavioral scientist who longed to be a writer as a young man. His main aim was to focus on operant conditioning. Operant Conditioning is a type of learning where behaviors are repeated to earn rewards, or avoid punishment (Morris & Maisto 2010). Operant conditioning is when we use consequences to transform or shape behavior, either to increase or decrease a voluntary behavior. According to J. Dinsmoor, “Skinner suggested that it is punishment that people find objectionable and against which they rebel, rather than simply, the fact that our behavior is under external control. Positive reinforcement leads to voluntary cooperation. Hostile reactions to Skinner's message may reflect confusion of his opposition to autonomous action as a scientific concept with opposition to behavior described as autonomous. Negative reactions toward science, psychology, and the use of "lower" animals to understand human behavior may also have played a role. Properly understood, Skinner was much closer to the libertarian than to the totalitarian end of the political spectrum.” You will notice his many contributions that will be brought to your attention so that he can receive the recognition as one of the most...
Words: 458 - Pages: 2
...controversy behind skinners experiment, some people were eager to learn more on how the human mind works ,while others protest that people had free will and that they were not being controlled by their environment. Skinner’s theory was broken down into four main components. These components are reinforcement, shaping, schedules of reinforcement, and extinction and punishment each method was tested on rats, in which the animals natural instincts were taking away so they started to rely on the levers and buttons in order to survive in their new environment . Although rats and humans share a common DNA people are very different. Humans possess something that animals do not they have the freedom to go against the crowd and to make a sandwich when they are hungry. Free will is even mentioned in our Huan rights we have the rights.ccording to John Martin Fischer in Four Views On Free Will “ If I breath I am of free will, if I am of military blood then I am of control and if my heart beats I am of determinism”(Martin 85) Fischer is trying to say that no one can control a person because they have a choice to live their unless they are in government controlled country then the government controls them and as long as their heart beats they will be attached to determinism . “…Skinner desired nothing more than to shape- and shape is the operative word here –the behavior of people subjected to gears and boxes and buttons …”(Slater 7) Skinner claimed that...
Words: 388 - Pages: 2
...B. F. Skinner B. F. Skinner developed the theory of “radical behaviorism” which stated that people do not have free will, instead they react to the consequences brought about by the decisions they make. Skinner’s philosophy insists that individuals’ behaviors come from the process of stimulus, reinforcement, and consequences; however, Skinner does not account for the fact that humans have cognition, and incorporate their attitude, perception, values, and beliefs into their decision making. Despite this oversight, Skinner is responsible for developing many observations about the learning behaviors of individuals, as well as ideas on how to effectively create a positive learning environment for students and employees. Many scholars and managers have learned from Skinner’s philosophies, and added to them over the years to produce the modern day insights on the different motivations that drive human behavior. B. F. Skinner is claimed as the ‘father of reinforcement theory.’ He proposed that people do not make their own choices; instead they behave according to their exposure to their external environment. Ivan Pavlov and John Watson suggested that a stimulus leads to a response, and Skinner (along with Edwin Thorndike) took this theory a step farther to say that responses lead to consequences. Skinner believed these consequences shape an individual’s decision making, and ultimately determine their course of action in the future. There are a couple discrepancies with this philosophy...
Words: 840 - Pages: 4
...| | History of B.F Skinner "The consequences of behavior determine the probability That the behavior will occur again"- B.F. Skinner Burrhus Frederick Skinner is one of the most important person's in the history of psychology. He was very popular and well known by seeing humans as no different to animals. He was also well known by his unique and well expressed quotes and by operant conditioning and schedules of reinforcement theories. Burrhus was a young boy that was interested and attracted in observing and spotting the world. To begin with, Skinner was born on March 20, 1904 in small town in the hills of Pennsylvania. At that time his father was prestigious lawyer and his mother was a housewife. Skinner grew up in a peaceful home with a warm and stable family. He had one younger brother that died when he was 16 years old from cerebral aneurism, and he had no sisters. During his childhood, he took pleasure of building and experimenting things, an ability and talent he would shortly use in his own psychological experiments in his career path. As a young boy, he build things like roller scooters and steerable wagons that worked backwards. Corrales 2 At later years, Burrhus decided to attend Hamilton College in New York, where he soon graduated with a BA degree in English. His passion was to become a writer, but later he noticed it wasn't working for him. After some ventures and some traveling, he decided to go back to school. Skinner enrolled in the Psychology...
Words: 842 - Pages: 4
...Olsen & Hergenhahn, 2009 list 24 major theoretical concepts associated with Burrhus Frederic Skinner. Among these theoretical concepts, radical behaviorism, shaping, extinction, chaining, punishment, verbal behavior, and his learning theory are paramount. In addition to these theoretical concepts, Skinner’s respondent and operant behavior, type s and type r conditioning, as well as the cumulative recording and contingency contracting cannot be ignored. However, the primary focus of this slide is a succinct review of the 12 fundamentals of Skinner’s behaviorism as notated in Team B annotated bibliography from week 2. In that regard, Delprato & Midgley state, “Behaviorism’s impact on disciplines inside and outside of psychology is exemplified by the prominence of its leading advocate B. F. Skinner” (p. 1507). The essential points Delprato & Midgley revealed regarding Skinner’s behaviorism are the purpose of science, methodology, determinism, locus of behavioral control, consequential causality, materialism, behavior as subject matter, reductionism, non-reductionism, organism as the locus of biological change, classification of behavior into respondent and operant stimulus control of operant behavior, and the generality of behavioral principles. According to Delprato & Midgley, 1992 the purpose of science is to predict and control behavior of organism. To that end, experimentation, the use of scientific research, and technological application is vital in accessing...
Words: 684 - Pages: 3
...Comparison between Maslow and Skinner Rhonda Gardner Educational Psychology July 1, 2012 Comparison and Contrast between Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory and Burrhus Frederic Skinner Behaviorist Theory B. F. Skinner and Abraham Maslow both are well known in the field of Psychology, but not all psychologist believe in the same theories, perspectives or needs. Here we have two brilliant minds with two different theories when it comes to learning. While neither is wrong, they both have a tremendous impact in the classroom. Take a look at the cart below and compare Skinner’s and Maslow’s theories. Chart: Theories and Needs | Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs | Skinner Behaviorist Theory | How Motivation is Defined | Maslow believed that people have basic instincts according to their needs. This shapes their behavior of the person, when one of the five key needs are deprived or missing there is a change in behavior. | Skinner believed that behavior is shaped by positive and negative reinforcement. Good behavior is rewarded and bad behavior is punished or a least favorable outcome occurs.. | How Motivation changes for elementary vs. secondary students. | Maslow believed that the 5 steps in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs must be meet in order for a student to be successful in the learning process. Once these needs are met the students should proceed forward in small steps to more advanced steps of the subject area and adjusted if needed. In secondary students...
Words: 973 - Pages: 4
...B. F. Skinner An Inspiration in Psychology Kimberly Whitmore PSY3421, Psychology of Learning and Motivation Abstract Burrhus Fredrick Skinner, a son, literary writer, husband, father and most important an inspiration in the psychology world. B.F. Skinner born March 20, 1904, in a small railroad town in Pennsylvania, was a creative child who liked to think out side the box. Skinner was a behaviorist, which means he seeks out the explanation to human behavior not in the mind but outside within the environment that collectively determines behavior. In the opinion of his professional peers, he was the most influential psychologist in the country. Over his career in Psychology, Skinner also faced criticisms, especially when it came to the Air Crib. Skinner was a revolution to the times in psychology, with his research, his workings with the military, experiments on dogs, pigeons and rodents to his observational findings. His philosophies of behaviorism still play a major part in the psychology world today. Skinner is the most important American psychologist of the twentieth century, and arguably the most important world psychologist. No issue seemed too large or too small for his observant eye and his analytic insights. 1. A Skinner Family Background. 2. How did Skinner make his way in to Psychology? 3. What is the cumulative recorder? 4. What is the operant conditioning chamber; also know as Skinner’s Box? 5. What is operant behavior? 6. The Air...
Words: 3209 - Pages: 13
...Learning from B.F Skinner and Jean Piaget The psychological studies of B.F Skinner and Jean Piaget in the field of learning revolutionized the understanding of learning processes, and undoubtedly paved the way for future psychologists. The findings of B.F Skinner and his theory on operant learning expanded the horizons of his generation. Jean Piaget also constructed the basis by which we evaluate the logical capabilities of youth, and he developed a theory of schemas. Both of these eminent psychologists have left a mark on the field of learning, and while both are dissimilar, they have common themes and continuities that cannot be overlooked. Burrhus Frederic Skinner was born on March 20, 1904, to William Arthur Skinner (a lawyer) and Grace Madge Burrhus, born with an aptitude for mechanical toys and gadgets. In his adolescence he showed interest in works by Charles Darwin and Francis Bacon. In his early adult life he attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York where he studied English language and Literature, during his time at University he was heavily engaged in the campus magazine, and was known for his hand in pranks. After graduation he was exposed to Behaviorism by the literary magazine Dial, and read further into Conditioned Reflexes by Ivan Pavlov, he soon realized that he was interested in human behavior and was convinced by a close friend that science was the next big thing, he decided to engage in work in psychology. He enrolled at Harvard in 1928, and began...
Words: 1375 - Pages: 6
...B.F. Skinner believed the most effective way to understand behavior is to look at the causes of action and its consequences; this is what he called operant conditioning. Skinner thought it would be more beneficial to study observable behavior as opposed to internal events such as thinking and emotion. His work is based off of Edward Thordike’s Law and Effect theory, which he renamed as Reinforcement. It was Skinner’s findings that behavior that was reinforced tends to be strengthened and repeated opposed to behavior that is not reinforced tends to be weakened and extinguished. Skinner studied this behavior by conducting experiments using animals, such as lab rats, which he placed in what he called a “Skinner Box.” B.F. Skinner came up with...
Words: 687 - Pages: 3
...Management in Human and Social Development - MGMT 8010 June 28, 2014 Understanding Burrhus Frederic Skinner B. F. Skinner was one of the most influential of American psychologists. A radical behaviorist, he developed the theory of operant conditioning, the idea that behavior is determined by its consequences, be they reinforcements or punishments, which make it more or unlikely that the behavior will be repeated again, (NNDB, 2014). His principles are still incorporated within treatments of phobias, addictive behaviors, and in the enhancement of classroom performance as well as in computer-based self-instruction, (NNDB, 2014). Skinner believed that the only scientific approach to psychology was one that studied behaviors, not internal (subjective) mental processes, (NNDB, 2014). He denied the existence of a mind as a thing separate from the body, but he did not deny the existence of thoughts, which he regarded simply as private behaviors to be analyzed according to the same principle as publicly observed behaviors, (NNDB, 2014). According to Michael (2013) Burrhus Frederic Skinner is very famous for developing his own philosophical studies around animal and human behavior. Once I had realized that this Theorist had caught my attention, I really became very excited about this research project so I started finding information about the man called B.F. Skinner, (NNDB, 2014). I am not sure if you’ve heard of him before but he is one of the most famous psychologists...
Words: 1178 - Pages: 5
