Skinner, B(urrhus) F(rederic) (1904–1990)

US psychologist. He was a radical behaviourist who rejected mental concepts, seeing the organism as a 'black box' where internal processes are not significant in predicting behaviour. He studied operant conditioning (influencing behaviour patterns by reward or punishment) and held that behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences.

The 'Skinner box' is an enclosed environment in which the process of learned behaviour can be observed. In it, a rat presses a lever, and learns to repeat the behaviour because it is rewarded by food. Skinner also designed a 'baby box', a controlled, soundproof environment for infants. His own daughter was partially reared in such a box until the age of two.

His radical approach rejected almost all previous psychology; his text Science and Human Behavior 1953 contains no references and no bibliography. His other works include Walden Two 1948 and Beyond Freedom and Dignity 1971. Both these books argue that an ideal society can be attained and maintained only if human behaviour is modified – by means of such techniques as conditioning – to fit society instead of society adapting to the needs of individuals.

Skinner was born in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, and studied at Harvard. He was professor at Indiana 1945–48 and at Harvard 1948–74.

He attempted to explain even complex human behaviour as a series of conditioned responses to outside stimuli. He opposed the use of punishment, arguing that it did not effectively control behaviour and had unfavourable side effects.

After the 'Skinner box', he developed a teaching machine. This presents information to a student at a pace determined by the student, and then tests the student on the material previously presented; correct answers are rewarded, thereby reinforcing learning.