Skinner Essay

Burrhus Frederic Skinner, also known as B.F. Skinner, was one of the most respected and influential psychologists in the twentieth century. Growing up in a rural area in Pennsylvania with around two thousand people, Skinner, along with his brother Edward, were forced to use their imagination to keep themselves entertained. At a young age, Skinner liked school. Once he graduated, he attended Hamilton College in New York where he received a B.A. in English literature. After receiving his degree he attended Harvard where he would receive his Ph.D. and invent the “Skinner Box”, and begin his experimental science in studying behavior. He called his study, “radical” behaviorism. After college, he would marry, and have two children. In 1990, he met his fate when he was diagnosed, and ultimately died from leukemia.

Skinner was born on March 20, 1904 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. His mother, Grace Skinner, was an intelligent and strong housewife who quit her job as a typist after the birth of Skinner, and became a housewife. His father, William Skinner, was a local attorney in Susquehanna. Skinner’s parents raised him in an old fashioned, and hard working household.

Two years after Skinner’s birth, his brother Edward Skinner was born. The Skinner brothers kept themselves out of trouble in the railroad town of two thousand people by experimenting in building things out of makeshift materials. A couple things that the boys built were a shack in the woods, and a cart with an opposite direction steering wheel. Skinner would use these skills later on in his life. Skinner also occupied his time by writing short stories and novels. At the age of nine, Skinner joined the Junior Boy Scouts where he experienced camping, and learning how to be ind...

... middle of paper ...

...eading to behavior modification and the idea of token economy. Behavior modification is a fairly simple concept in which the negative reinforcement is removed and is replaced by a desirable reinforcement in order to achieve the wanted behavior. This type of modification has been used in treating many conditions such as addictions, autism, and many other psychological issues.

The idea of token economy is used in psychiatric institutes as well as juvenile halls by rewarding good behavior. The institution sets a certain set of rules forth, and if followed accordingly, they subject is rewarded for doing so. However, if the subject behaves poorly, the consequence would be the tokens being rescinded. These tokens can serve as many types of “currency” for the subject, and can be redeemed for anything desired by them, such as candy, cigarettes, or anything else available.