Understanding the Psychologist Called Burrhus Frederick...

Assignment 4 Valerie Rountree Walden University Management in Human and Social Development - MGMT 8010 June 28, 2014 Understanding Burrhus Frederic Skinner B. F. Skinner was one of the most influential of American psychologists. A radical behaviorist, he developed the theory of operant conditioning, the idea that behavior is determined by its consequences, be they reinforcements or punishments, which make it more or unlikely that the behavior will be repeated again, (NNDB, 2014). His principles are still incorporated within treatments of phobias, addictive behaviors, and in the enhancement of classroom performance as well as in computer-based self-instruction, (NNDB, 2014). Skinner believed that the only scientific†¦show more content†¦Skinner’s research added improvements to the objective methodical value of experimental behaviors he invented the â€Å"Skinner box†, which is a small sound proof chamber in which an animal could be isolated from all distractions and outside influences, responding only to the well-ordered settings within the box, (NNDB, 2014). Skinner documented his experiments and notated that his daughter Deborah was placed in a â€Å"Skinner Box†, during her early child development stages, (NNDB, 2014). There was confusion with another invention he developed called the â€Å"Baby Tender† which was an air conditioned crib with see through walls, (NNDB, 2014). The crib provided a place to sleep and to remain warm without the involvement of being wrapped in several layers of clothing or even the trouble of a babe’s blanket, (NNDB, 2014). Skinner’s daughter Deborah slept in her novel crib until she was just under three years old, and it is known that she grew up to be a happy, loving and healthy thriving child and is currently a very successful artist living in England, (NNDB, 2014). In 1948, Skinner documented his work and published his actual thoughts on child development in the Walden II, a fictional account of a behaviorist created utopia in which carefree young parents stroll off to work or school while their little ones enjoy allShow MoreRelatedCompare and Contrast the Work of Harlow and Skinner Essay1528 Words   |  7 PagesCompare and contrast the approaches of Skinner and Harlow to investigating influences on behaviour. This essay will cover a wide range of material to identify, compare and contrast the work of Harry Harlow and Burrhus Frederick Skinner. Harlow and Skinner did research and investigated the influences on behaviour; this essay will draw upon both investigations. Further into the essay it will identify some similarities and differences into both researches with a supported argument about the importanceRead MoreThe Theory Of Language Development1975 Words   |  8 Pagesmyself often think about. Using two theorists, Burrhus Fredrick Skinner (1904-1990) and Avram Noam Chomsky (1928- present) we will explore the two theories they studied in their lifetime and dedicate their life to, and contrast the two theories of language development, exploring the Behaviorist Theory, studied by Skinner and the Nativist Theory, studied by Chomsky. These two theories of language development differ greatly from each other. Both Skinner and Chomsky believed strongly in their theoryRead MoreTypes Of Conditioning, Classical And Operant2282 Words   |  10 Pageswould get food and even when the food was not brought the dog still salivated at the sound of the bell. Burrhus Frederick Skinner is the theorist associated with operant conditioning, Skinner was born in March 1904 in America and died in August 1990, he earnt his doctorate degree at Harvard University. Operant conditioning is a way of learning using positive and negative reinforcement. ‘Skinner felt that classical conditioning was too simple to be the explanation of human behaviour, he felt the bestRead Moreexplore the behavioral and humanistic theory6235 Words   |  25 Pageshumanistic theory. My research constructed chiefly on two behavioral theorists Burrhus Fredric Skinner and John Broadus Watson and two humanistic theorists Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. In behavioral theory, the founder of psychological behaviorism, John Watson believed that internal thinking process could not be observed; therefore, psychologists should not focus on it. An American psychologist, Burrhus Fredric Skinner social philosopher behaviorist, inventor, and author, developed the theory of