B. F. Skinner's Influence In Psychology

B.F Skinner’s Influence in Psychology B.F Skinner is a pioneer in the field of psychology namely for his work in behavioralism. Even today his axioms are used to aid phobias and addictions. Furthermore, he invented the theory of operant conditioning, which is now considered foundational in psychology and is still applicable to the mind’s processes. Operant conditioning involves a multitude different principles that leave it relevant in today’s psychology, these principles include: shaping, aversive stimuli, behavior modification, and reinforcement. Skinner also was an author along with his work in the psychology field. His books were stories but his ideals of operant conditioning bled through in his works. This paper is going to examine …show more content…
This was first exemplified when he convinced the military to fund what he called the “Pigeon Project”. Skinner believed he could train pigeons to guide bombs and torpedoes with proper training (Greengrass, 2004, p. 80). Skinner’s most notable work in behaviorism is his research of operant condition via rats. His research was conducted by placing a rat in a small cage with a button that when pressed would release food. Eventually, the rat would haphazardly press the button and release food, this, eventually, would lead to the rat learning to press the button when it wants food. This shows Skinner’s axiom of reinforcement. In this case the rat’s behavior is reinforced by a means of receiving …show more content…
Behavioral modification is used in therapy still today, it is, put simply, the attempt to replace unwanted actions with the desired ones via behavior shaping. Behavioral modification today is seen as token economy, a slight spin off of the its predecessor. Token economy is often used in places such as mental institutions, jail, and some parents use it on their children. It is when a sort of fake currency is given as a reward for the desired behavior, it has been shown to work effectively in helping psychiatric patients, though it is seen as undermining when practiced. These concepts amalgamated encompass Skinner’s contribution to psychology in regards to operant conditioning.
To summarize Skinner’s Operant Conditioning and its effects on the field of Psychology; one would first attest to how it gave the field of psychology legitimacy. The reason for this is Skinner was able to operationally define variables and control animals in a laboratory setting, which helped psychology as a science. Another reason it helped Psychology as a science is instead of studying inner feelings and the mind, Skinner studied observable, concrete behavior. He then attributed rats behavior to ours and argued that we learn in the same