Catania, A. C. (2003). B. F. Skinner's science and human behavior: Its antecedents and its consequences. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 80, 313-320. (available online here)
Epstein, R., Lanza, R. P., & Skinner, B. F. (1980). Symbolic communication between two pigeons (Columba livia domestica). Science, 207, 543-545. (available online here)
Epstein, R., Lanza, R. P., & Skinner, B. F. (1981). “Self-awareness” in the pigeon. Science, 212, 695-696. (available online here)
Epstein, R., & Skinner, B. F. (1981). The spontaneous use of memoranda by pigeons. Behaviour Analysis Letters, 1, 241-246. (available online here)
Peterson, Gail (2004). A Day of Great Illumination: B.F. Skinner's Discovery of Shaping. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 82, 317 -328. [An interesting historical article that describes Skinner's discovery in a flour mill in Minneapolis in 1943 of what he would later term 'shaping.' Available online here.]
Skinner, B. F. (1981). Pavlov’s influence on psychology in America. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 17, 242- 245.
Selected Books
Skinner, B. F. (1965). Science and human behavior. New York: The Free Press. (available online here)
Skinner, B. F. (2003). The technology of teaching. Acton: Copley Publishing Group.
Skinner, B. F. (1974). About behaviorism. New York: Vintage Books.
This is a fascinating book on the basics of behavior analysis. It's aimed at the lay reader, and laid out as both an argument for behaviorism and against what Skinner called 'mentalism'. The introduction lists twenty myths about behavior analysis, and Skinner then discusses each of these myths in turn, answering critics and comparing behaviorism and mentalism. The last chapter reviews everything discussed in the book in light of these myths, showing how they don't hold up under examination.
Skinner, B. F. (2005). Walden two. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company.
Skinner, B. F. (2002). Beyond freedom & dignity. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company.
Skinner, B.F. (1985). Particulars of My Life. New York: New York University Press.
Skinner, B. F. (1972). Cumulative record: a selection of papers, 3rd edition. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Skinner, B. F. (1969). Contingencies of reinforcement: A Theoretical Analysis. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Skinner, B. F. (1957). Verbal behavior. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Skinner, B. F., and Ferster, Charles B. (1957). Schedules of reinforcement. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Slater, L. Opening Skinner's box: Great psychological experiments of the twentieth century. New York: WW Norton.
The first chapter of this book is a light-hearted and very entertaining view of the work of Skinner. The chapter includes an interview with Skinner’s daughter and helps to dispel some of the more bizarre rumors about his life.
This book offers, as its title suggests, ten theories of human nature, including the theory of B. F. Skinner. Each theory is outlined in terms of four main elements of structure: '1. a background theory about the world; 2. a basic theory of the nature of human beings; 3. a diagnosis of what is wrong with us; and 4. a prescription for putting it right.' (p. 9) [Note: There have been at least two further editions of the book, but this particular edition is the one with which this user is most familiar.]
The award is given only to living recipients. Second, the award is for career achievements, not for one or a few pieces of excellent research. Third, the award is for research in educational psychology, not research in psychology in general, nor for research in education in general. Fourth, the award is for research in the best tradition of educational psychology. That is, the award is for original, scientific, empirically based research that contributes significantly to knowledge, theory, or practice in educational psychology. Research consisting primarily of critiques of other researchers' works, reviews of research, and preparation of textbooks would not qualify by this criterion. But scientific production and testing of theory, methods of teaching or learning, instructional products, tests, evaluation techniques, and the like would qualify by this criterion.
Division of Educational Psychology of the American Psychological Association Thorndike Award Recipients
1968 - National Medal of Science
Jan. 1972 - Given Gold Medal Award by the American Psychological Foundation (a part of the American Psychological Association) in recognition of a distinguished and lengthy record of scientific and scholarly contributions to the field of psychology by a senior American psychologist. A short biographical statement appeared in the Jan. 1972 issue of American Psychologist (the APA journal). The award carried with it a stipend of $1,000. The statement and the award citation were both written by Fred Keller.
1972 - Skinner awarded Humanist of the Year award from the American Humanist Association. Click here to hear the audio of his acceptance speech, titled Behaviorism is a Humanistic Psychology.
1984 - Distinguished Member, Psi Chi National Council
Persons who "have national or international reputations because of contributions made to psychology and Psi Chi" in the areas of research, service, and/or teaching, and who have been nominated and approved by Psi Chi's National Council are extended the prestigious title of Distinguished Member.
1990 - William James Fellow Award
1997 - AHRD Award
The "Academy Awards" is the distinguished awards program in the Human Resource Development profession that is sponsored by the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD). These awards are for scholarly professionals who have made significant contributions to the vision of leading the profession through research: Burrhus F. Skinner studied at Harvard and taught there from1931-36 and from 1947-74 with the time between at the University of Minnesota. A leading behaviorist, he was a proponent of operant conditioning and programmed instruction. His main scientific works include The Behavior of Organisms (1938), and Verbal Behavior (1957). His social and political views reached a wider public through Walden Two and Beyond Freedom and Dignity (1971).
Quotes about Skinner
“To several audiences before, I have suggested that Skinner could be characterized as a unique combination of the figures of Thomas A. Edison, Jesus Christ, and Bertrand Russell, and I stand by that characterization here, intending no disrespect for any of the four parties named.”
-Norman Guttman, American Psychologist, May 1977, 321 – 328.
Quotes by Skinner
"A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying."
"Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten."
"Give me a child and I'll shape him into anything."
"I did not direct my life. I didn't design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them for me. That's what life is."
" If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your environment."
"Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless."
"We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of reading."
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