B.F. Skinner Essay, Research Paper

B.F. Skinner

On March 20, 1904, a adult male known as B.F. Skinner was born in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania ( Encarta 95 ) . His existent name was Burrhus Fredric, but he signed his name as B.F. since he was at the stamp age of nine ( World Authors 764 ) . Skinner accomplished many things in his life-time. He wrote several books, all about psychological science.

B.F. Skinner was the first kid of William A. and Grace Burrhus Skinner ( World Authors 764 ) . His male parent was a successful attorney who wrote a legal criterion text edition ( World Authors 764 ) . Because of this, B.F. Skinner grew up affluent, but he still held a occupation as a shoe clerk ( Markle 3 ) . During high school, Skinner was involved in many activities, including composing for the local paper, playing the piano and saxophone, and contriving things ( Markle 3 ) .

After graduating high school, B.F. Skinner went to Hamilton College ( World Authors 764 ) . In 1926, Skinner graduated from Hamilton where he majored in English linguistic communication and literature ( Academic American 343 ) . From at that place, he went on to Harvard University, where he received a Ph.D. grade in 1931 ( Encarta 95 ) . B.F. stayed there until 1936 making research lab experiments ( Academic American 343 ) . He so joined the University of Minnesota in 1937 ( Academic American 343 ) . It was during this clip that Skinner wrote his first book The Behavior of Organisms ( Encarta 95 ) . The book was quoted to be a & # 8220 ; reasonably comprehensive survey of operant conditioning & # 8221 ; ( Academic American 343 ) .

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In this book, the theory of B.F. Skinner is based upon the thought that acquisition is a map of alteration in open behaviour ( Markle 59 ) . Changes in behaviour are the consequence of an single & # 8217 ; s response to events ( stimulation ) that occur in the environment ( Markle 60 ) . A response produces a effect such as specifying a word, hitting a ball, or work outing a math job ( Markle 60 ) . When a peculiar Stimulus-Response ( S-R ) form is reinforced ( rewarded ) , the person is conditioned to react ( Markle 60 ) . The typical feature of operant conditioning comparative to old signifiers of behaviourism ( for illustration Thorndike and Hull ) is that the being can breathe responses alternatively of merely arousing response due to an external stimulation ( Markle 61 ) .

Support is the cardinal component in Skinner & # 8217 ; s S-R theory ( Markle 61 ) . A reinforcing stimulus is anything that strengthens the coveted response ( Skinner 47 ) . It could be verbal congratulations, a good class, or a feeling of increased achievement or satisfaction ( Skinner 47 ) . The theory besides covers negative reinforcing stimuluss ( penalty ) that consequence in the decrease of unsought responses ( Markle 61 ) . A great trade of attending was given to agendas of support and their effects on set uping and keeping behaviour ( Markle 61 ) .

After this book was written, Skinner married Yvonne Blue ( Academic American 343 ) . In 1938, he had his first girl, Julie Vargas and his 2nd one in 1944, named Deborah Buzan ( Academic American 343 ) . During World War II, Skinner was an associate professor for the United States Office of Scientific Research and Development ( Encarta 95 ) . He did of import research, which finally led to his development of the & # 8220 ; Skinner Box & # 8221 ; ( Encarta 95 ) . This research included preparation pigeon guided missiles ( World Authors 764 ) . Skinner was supported by General Motors, Inc. and the Office of Scientific Research and

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Development ( Encarta 95 ) .

It was besides during this clip in which he foremost designed his & # 8220 ; babe box & # 8221 ; , besides called the Aircrib ( World Authors 764 ) . The babe box is a controlled environmental chamber for babies ( World Authors 764 ) . Skinner used his ain girl, Deborah, ( along with two granddaughters ) , for this & # 8220 ; babe box ( World Authors 764 ) . The Aircrib is a big, air-conditioned, germ-free, soundproof box made to give an ideal environment ( World Authors 766 ) . The babe put in the box could play or kip without apparels or coverings ( World Authors 766 ) .

The consequence of this experiment prompted Skinner to compose Walden Two ( World Authors 766 ) . It gave an accou

National Trust on a Utopian Society where traditional kid raising techniques where replaced with “behavioral engineering” ( World Authors 766 ) . Skinner thought that human behaviour is determined by a response to outside stimulation ( World Authors 766 ) . In Walden Two, Skinner’s Utopia was said to be a universe in a universe ( Mackle 79 ) . The Walden Two experiment represents a sort of scientific geographic expedition and the experimental codification for good behaviour is set ( Mackle 79 ) . Everyone in Walden Two is expected to follow the codification, by making so they are under the supervising of directors ( Mackle 79 ) . This was an ideal society where at that place isn’t any penalty and subject ( Mackle 79 ) . But, felicity, goodness, and spontaneousness come into drama ( Mackle 79 ) . Walden Two, which has been read by many and discussed by many, is said to be good written but “too full of ethical abstractions” ( World Authors 766 ) . However, many readers were in awe for the idea of even utilizing and experiment done with rats and using it to human existences ( World Authors 766 ) .

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Skinner wrote Science and Human Behavior for his general instruction class at Harvard in 1953 ( Encarta 95 ) . Science and Human Behavior explains his behaviourist psychological science ( Encarta 95 ) . At the same clip taking into history old ideas over human behaviour ( World Authors 767 ) . Skinner says, & # 8220 ; A scientific discipline of human behaviour could be expected to detect that what adult male does is the consequence of specifiable conditions and that one time these conditions have been discovered, we can expect and to some extent find his actions & # 8221 ; ( Skinner 68 ) . Many of his readers said that the book was & # 8220 ; strong, consistent, and all but thorough instance for a natural scientific discipline of human behaviour & # 8221 ; ( World Authors 766 ) .

Following came Verbal Behavior, in which he said linguistic communication was merely a type of behaviour ( World Authors 766 ) . Skinner commented that all of the & # 8220 ; eventualities of support act uponing an person would do possible the anticipation and control of address & # 8221 ; ( World Authors 766 ) .

After Verbal Behavior, Skinner wrote his most controversial book. Beyond Freedom and Dignity was published in 1971 ( Encarta 95 ) . It extends the thoughts in Walden Two and the book is said to do his unequivocal statement of adult male and society ( Skinner 69 ) . Skinner says if humanity is to last & # 8220 ; we must abandon such & # 8216 ; pre-scientific & # 8217 ; ideals as freedom and self-respect, and put about commanding our environment and ourselves by agencies of a & # 8216 ; engineering of behaviour & # 8217 ; which will be comparable in power and preciseness to physical and biological & # 8216 ; engineering & # 8217 ; and which will bring on people non to be good but to act good & # 8221 ; ( Skinner 69 ) . In the terminal, endurance is & # 8220 ; the lone value harmonizing to which a civilization can be judged & # 8221 ; ( Skinner 69 ) .

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The last definite thing found on B.F. Skinner is that he passed off on August of 1990 ( Mackle 81 ) . His girl has said she has a esthesis she was a happy babe and disbursement two and a half old ages in the Aircrib was a good thing ( Mackle 81 ) .

B.F. Skinner was a controversial and really interesting individual. He did many things to seek to assist the human race. The chief thing given for the field of biological science is his development of operant conditioning. Trying to do society a much better thing seemed to be figure one on his head. Even though people didn & # 8217 ; t see oculus to oculus with him and many of his idea were really controversial, it didn & # 8217 ; t halt him from following what he thought would be right. Skinner was a much criticized adult male, he was besides, nevertheless, and of import adult male in psychological science and the development of human idea. He gave this field of work a batch to look toward. Throughout all of his books and documents written there is much to speak about with Skinner has said and done.

Mackle, S. & # 8220 ; Good Frames and Bad & # 8221 ; . New York: Wiley, 1969.

& # 8220 ; Skinner, B.F. & # 8221 ; . Academic American. Novato, CA: Galahad Books, 1991.

& # 8220 ; Skinner, B.F. & # 8221 ; . Microsoft Encarta. New York: Funk & A ; Wagnalls Corporation.

Skinner, B.F. Science and Human Behavior. New York: Macmillian, 1953.

& # 8220 ; Skinner, B.F. & # 8221 ; . World Authors. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.