B. F. Skinner Biography

B. F. Skinner, Psychologist
Born asBurrhus Frederic Skinner
Occup.Psychologist
FromUSA
SpouseYvonne Blue
BornMarch 20, 1904
Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedAugust 18, 1990
Massachusetts, United States
CauseLeukemia
Aged86 years
Burrhus Frederic Skinner, generally known as B. F. Skinner, was an American psychologist, behaviorist, author, innovator, and also social theorist. Born upon March 20, 1904, in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, Skinner was the eldest of two boys of legal representative William Arthur Skinner as well as his wife Grace. The household lived in a small yet comfy house where young Skinner was presented to a love of literary works by his mommy and a strict work principles by his daddy.

In his very early years, Skinner participated in the Hamilton Elementary School in Susquehanna, where he established a strong rate of interest in understanding and also demonstrated an eager intelligence. He later on took place to participate in Susquehanna High School, where he came to be involved in a number of extracurricular activities, including the college newspaper and also choir. Upon graduation in 1922, Skinner signed up at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, in quest of a job as a writer. Throughout his time at Hamilton College, Skinner was greatly affected by the works of H. G. Wells, Bertrand Russell, and John B. Watson.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts level in English literary works in 1926, Skinner encountered a turning factor in his specialist trajectory. After a collection of stopped working efforts at creating and some self-questioning, he ultimately abandoned his search of a literary occupation and rather picked to examine psychology. Attracted part by the works of psychologist John B. Watson, he was keen on discovering the science of human habits.

Skinner was approved into the graduate psychology program at Harvard University in 1928. While at Harvard, Skinner created the theory of operant conditioning, which presumes that habits can be controlled or modified through support, normally in the type of benefits or punishments. It was during this time that Skinner additionally invented the Skinner box, a tool developed to gauge, observe, and change pet behavior in a regulated environment. Skinner gained his PhD in Psychology from Harvard in 1931.

Throughout his occupation, Skinner released many influential publications, both scholastic and also for the general public. His two most remarkable jobs, "The Behavior of Organisms" (1938) and "Walden Two" (1948), helped to strengthen his reputation as a preeminent pressure in behavioral science. "The Behavior of Organisms" encapsulated his concept of operant conditioning, while "Walden Two" was an utopian unique depicting a society based upon Skinner's behavior concepts.

In 1945, Skinner ended up being the chairman of the Department of Psychology at Indiana University. He held that position up until 1948 when he returned to Harvard University, where he remained for the rest of his job. Skinner's other contributions to psychology consist of the growth of programmed knowing, which entails damaging intricate jobs right into smaller sized actions using positive support, and the idea of a "mentor machine" to aid in classroom discovering.

Throughout his life, Skinner engaged in collaborations with numerous various other psychologists as well as scholars, consisting of Edward C. Tolman, Clark L. Hull, J. B. Watson, and also Ivan Pavlov. His work substantially influenced the area of psychology, specifically behaviorism, and his theories continue to be shown in psychology programs today.

B. F. Skinner died on August 18, 1990, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the age of 86. His contributions to the area of psychology have left a long lasting impact, and his job remains to be studied as well as used in various disciplines throughout the globe.

Our collection contains 10 quotes who is written / told by F. Skinner, under the main topic Education.

Related authors: Bertrand Russell (Philosopher), Ivan Pavlov (Psychologist), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)

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10 Famous quotes by B. F. Skinner

Small: The consequences of an act affect the probability of its occurring again
"The consequences of an act affect the probability of it's occurring again"
Small: Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten
"Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten"
Small: If youre old, dont try to change yourself, change your environment
"If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your environment"
Small: Give me a child and Ill shape him into anything
"Give me a child and I'll shape him into anything"
Small: I did not direct my life. I didnt design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made the
"I did not direct my life. I didn't design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them for me. That's what life is"
Small: A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The re
"A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying"
Small: Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless
"Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless"
Small: We shouldnt teach great books we should teach a love of reading
"We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of reading"
Small: The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount
"The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount"
Small: The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do
"The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do"