B. F. Skinner

Modified: 2020-03-27

Skinner's contribution was radical behaviorism, or more properly, behavior analysis. Behavior analysis sidesteps issues of mind by assuming environmental determininism and by including the internal environment (self talk, covert verbal behavior) as part of the environment. Thus, dualistic issues are resolved and each human becomes subject to a unique set of environmental determinants composed of both external and internal environments. Skinner revived Bacon's inductive method and his lack of theory. Operants, the behaviors emitted by organisms, are selected by the environment in a quasi-evolutionary way. Respondents, the behaviors caused by observable stimuli, were Skinner's term for Pavlovian or classical conditioning. Skinner explored the ramifications of operant conditioning both in the lab and in the field. Schedules of reinforcement, programmed instruction, and behavior modification were three of his most important contributions.

Comments

Skinner expanded on the work of Pavlov and Watson by redefining the human organism's environment to include the things people say to themselves. The same rules of conditioning that apply to the external environment also apply to that internal environment. Skinner created a logical and self-consistent system that continues to have a vocal minority of adherents today.

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