B.F. Skinner

Overview

Barry Franklin Skinner was an American psychologist, behaviorist, and inventor who made significant contributions to our understanding of Learning, Motivation, and behavior. He is best known for developing the Operant Conditioning theory and the first behavioral therapy.

Early Life

Skinner was born on June 20, 1904, in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, to Francis Skinner and Ruth Elizabeth Kitchiner. His father was a chemist, and his mother was a librarian. Skinner grew up in a family that valued education and encouraged his curiosity about the world around him.

Education

Skinner attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1925. He then went on to earn his Master’s degree in Psychology from Columbia University in 1927. In 1928, Skinner received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Columbia University.

Career

In 1931, Skinner began his career as a Research Assistant at Harvard University’s Department of Psychology. During this time, he worked with psychologist B.F. Fisher and conducted research on phobias. After completing his Internship, Skinner became an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard University.

In 1940, Skinner moved to the Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital in New York City, where he began conducting research on Behavior Therapy. He was appointed as the Chief of Behavior Therapy in 1953 and remained in this position until his retirement in 1974.

Skinner’s work led to the development of several key concepts:

Innovations

Skinner’s work led to several innovations:

  • The Token Economy System: Skinner developed a system called the Token Economy, which used tokens to represent desired behaviors and provided rewards for successful completion.
  • Classical Conditioning: Skinner demonstrated the principles of Classical Conditioning, where an organism learns to associate a stimulus with a response.

Awards and Legacy

Skinner received numerous awards for his contributions to Psychology, including:

  • American Psychologist Association’s Distinguished Service Award
  • National Academy of Sciences’ National Medal of Science
  • Pulitzer Prize

Skinner’s legacy extends beyond his scientific contributions. He was a pioneer in the field of Behavior Therapy and helped establish it as a major area of research.

Personal Life

Skinner married Elizabeth Sperry in 1944, with whom he had two children: Benjamin Skinner (born 1950) and Katherine Skinner (born 1955). After his retirement from Harvard University, Skinner moved to Malibu, California, where he died on June 18, 1990.

Controversies

Skinner faced several controversies throughout his career:

  • Criticism of Behaviorism: Some critics accused Skinner of being overly focused on behavior and neglecting the role of Motivation and emotion in human experience.
  • Lack of Empathy: Skinner’s emphasis on Operant Conditioning led some to criticize him for lacking empathy and understanding of human emotions.

Conclusion

Barry Franklin Skinner was a renowned American psychologist who made significant contributions to our understanding of Learning, Motivation, and behavior. His work on Operant Conditioning and Behavior Therapy has had a lasting impact on the field of Psychology. While he faced controversies throughout his career, his legacy continues to inspire researchers and clinicians today.

References

  • Skinner, B.F. (1938). The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis.
  • Skinner, B.F. (1953). Science and Human Behavior. New York: Macmillan.
  • Skinner, B.F. (1964). Verbal Behavior. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

Additional Resources

  • “The Rise of theBehavioral Sciences.” The Encyclopedia of Psychology by James A. Taylor
  • “Barry F. Skinner.” Britannica.com
  • “B.F. Skinner.” Psychology Today.com