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B.F. Skinner

Definition

B.F. Skinner was a psychologist who developed the theory of operant conditioning, which posits that behavior is determined by its consequences, be they reinforcements or punishments.

Related terms

Behaviorism: A theory of learning that focuses solely on observable behaviors, disregarding any mental activities.

Reinforcement: In operant conditioning, it's any event that strengthens or increases the behavior it follows.

Punishment: It's an event that decreases the likelihood of the behavior it follows in operant conditioning.

"B.F. Skinner" appears in:

Study guides (4)

AP Psychology - 4.1 Introduction to Learning
AP Psychology - 4.3 Operant Conditioning
AP Psychology - 8.2 Psychological Perspectives and Etiology of Disorders
AP Psychology - 8.7 Introduction to Treatment of Psychological Disorders

Practice Questions (2)

In the context of operant conditioning, how did B.F. Skinner's research refine our understanding of Thorndike's Law of Effect?
Question #2: Which statement challenges the conventional understanding of B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning in relation to linguistic behavior?

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