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Behaviorism
A non mentalistic view of Psychology
B. F. Skinner
Who influenced him?
 Bertrand Russel’s (a British philosopher)
discussion of J. B. Watson’s book on
behaviorism. (Then, Watson himself)
 H.G. Wells article on G. Bernard Shaw
and Pavlov (Then Pavlov himself)
What were Skinner’s main
contributions?
 Developed the Skinner box as a way to
study operant behavior.
 Important concepts: operant
conditioning, reinforcement,
contingencies of reinforcement,
reinforcement schedules, discrimination
learning, programmed instruction.
 Developed the social implications of his
theory.
B.F. Skinner's behavior
• Cumulative record of his publishing
behavior
The Baby Box
• The aircrib
• Deborah in aircrib
• What happened to Deborah Skinner who
was raised in the "baby box"?
Skinner and Society
• Los Horcones and social engineering
• Twin Oaks originally founded on
Skinnerian principles
• Behaviorists for Social Responsibility
The End