The Life History of B.F. Skinner

Burrhus Frederic Skinner commonly known as B.F Skinner is an American psychologist. He was best known for the development of the B.F Skinner theory about behaviourism. He was a well-known author, inventor, and social philosopher. He also served as a professor of psychology at Harvard University from 1958, retired from the post in 1974. Apart from the popularity of the behaviourist theory of Skinner, he was also known to have written the utopian novel 'Walden Two'. Skinner died in 1990, at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The article focuses on the major events of Skinner’s life, the article discusses education, early life, B.F Skinner’s contributions to psychology and scientific inventions. The article also discusses the B.F skinner theory.

The Early Life of Skinner

B.F Skinner (Burrhus Frederic Skinner) was born on March 20, 1904, in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania in the United States Of America. He grew up in this town. His father was a known lawyer. His mother was a housewife and took care of Skinner and his younger brother. He completed his early education in this town. He had a younger brother named Edward. His brother Edward, two and a half years younger, died at age 16 of a cerebral haemorrhage. 

During his childhood, his closest friend was a young boy named Raphael Mille. They developed mutual bonding over the religiousness of their parents. Skinner was known to be an atheist, while he was born into a religious catholic family he converted into atheism when a teacher tried to assuage his fear of the hell that his grandmother described. During his childhood, he was known to be very fond of gadgets and contraptions.

Education

After completing his primary education in his hometown of Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, he enrolled in the Hamilton College in New York. he intended to become a writer. He received the degree in Bachelor of Arts in English literature in 1926, from Hamilton College. He was extensively involved in writing for the college papers, although his atheist views were critical to the traditional values of the college. He also found himself at a social disadvantage because of his takes on religious ideologies and human behaviour. 

After completing the degree in Hamilton College he got enrolled in Harvard University. It was in his Harvard years he was acquainted with a fellow colleague named Fred Keller. Skinner and Fred Keller together formed the basis of experimental science from the study of behaviour. This led to the development of a prototype of the skinner box, which was further explained in the B.F Skinner theory. Skinner psychology was greatly influenced by time spent at Harvard. Skinner psychology was greatly influenced by John B. Watson's behaviourism. 

Career as a Writer

After completing his degree at Harvard University, he attempted to write novels. He published a book called  'Dark Years'. The book did not do very well commercially. Although it is important to note that his writings were appreciated by one of the greatest poets of the time called Robert Frost. Although he received great appreciation from the poet he gave up writing. The main reason that was concluded for leaving his literary work was he had little world experience and he also concluded that he lacked the strong personal perspective needed to write a novel. One of the most famous novels that were authored by Skinner was Walden Two, the premise of the novel is based on a dystopian world, the novel is best described as science fiction. Walden Two was considered a commercially successful book.

Later Life

B.F received his PhD from Harvard University in 1931. He published his thesis on his operant conditioning experiments in The Behavior of Organisms in the following year of 1938. His work was greatly appreciated, many people drew a comparison between the work of Skinner and Ivan Pavlov. B.F Skinner learning theory was more involved in the learned responses to an environment rather than involuntary responses to stimuli as seen in the case of his competitors. 

Skinner After completing his doctorate he carried on teaching at the University of Minnesota, he left the institute shortly after. He then served as a professor at Harvard University from 1945 till his retirement. Skinner published many books that served as milestone contributions to psychology, even after his retirement he was active in his work. He was awarded the lifetime achievement award by the American Psychological Association Some of the major books that are considered important B.F Skinner contribution to psychology are as follows,

• The Technology of Teaching, published in 1968.

• Beyond Freedom and Dignity was published during his term at Harvard in the year 1971.

• About behaviorism, it was published in 1974.

• Contingencies of reinforcement was published in 1969.

Marriage and Children

B.F Skinner was married to Yvonne Blue in 1936. She was also known by her nickname called Eve. She was a lecturer and gallery instructor for the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She died at a young age on 30 August 1970. Eve and Skinner had 2 children, named Julie and Deborah. They are both married. Yvonne Blue is buried in the  Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

B.F Skinner Contribution to Psychology

He was one of the most prominent figures of psychology in American history, he shaped the study of behaviourism by using his tools and techniques. Skinner behaviourism is among the most widely studied topics of psychology. Some of the major contributions of Skinner included the Foundations of Skinner's behaviourism. The concept was intricately described in this book called Behaviour of Organisms published in 1938. The behaviourist theory of Skinner was based on the respondent behaviours and operant behaviours. 

The B.F Skinner learning theory is also among the most important contributions in the field of psychology. It is also based on the overall idea that learning is a function of change in the overt behaviour of an individual.  B.F Skinner learning theory encompasses the study of the following,

origin of operant behaviour, control of operant behaviour, explaining complex behaviour and reinforcement.

Final Years and Death.

Skinner was diagnosed with Leukaemia (blood cancer) in 1989, he was chronically ill. He succumbed to the illness in the following year of 1990. He died on August 18, 1990, at the age of 86 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. during his last years he started documenting his life in a series of three autobiographies called Particulars of My Life, The Shaping of a Behaviorist), and A Matter of Consequences (1983). The Particulars of My Life and The Shaping of a Behaviorist were published in 1976 and 1979 respectively.

Skinner's beliefs and ideologies are being promoted by the B.F. Skinner Foundation, which is headed by his daughter, Julie S. Vargas. Skinner was prominently known for his role in shaping the study of behavioural psychology. Many of his works still serve as the framework of behavioural understanding.