Burrhus Frederick Skinner: A Psychological Analysis

“The brain was a part of the body, and once you focus on the body, you should be focused on behavior and seek to change it” (Bjork, 2015, p. 2). Early psychologist Burrhus Frederick Skinner set out to do just this, and created multiple impacting theories along the way that have influenced the psychology field. The theories of Burrhus Frederick Skinner have had several positive imperssions on the career field of psychology and have influenced the practices used today. The impacts discussed include operant conditioning, the Skinner Box, manipulated behavior, and the similarities between the minds of animals and humans. Burrhus Frederick Skinner was a destructured theorist in psychology during the twentieth century (Skinner’s restructured learning

F. Skinner and his theories. His theory on the behavior of organisms lead to the foundation of the Skinner Box. The Skinner Box, sometimes referred to the Operant Conditioning Chamber, was used to study the behavior of organisms (Operant conditioning, 2010, p. 1). Skinner created this technique to improve the studies and practices to shape behavior used in the field of psychology. Skinner used the Skinner Box to test the minds of animals to help develop new technology machines, and to help benefit the minds of humans (Skinner box, 2016, p. 1). The main organisms observed and tested in the Skinner Box were rats, but the information was later applied to humans. The Skinner Box observes how an organisms surroundings can effects their behavior; inside the apparatus was a lever that the rats could press and receive food. However, when the surroundings of the rats changed, so did its behavior. By theorizing the idea on behaviors and creating the Skinner Box, Skinner has influenced the psychology field and created a new practice still used today. The Skinner Box demonstrates the effects of positive and negative reinforcements on organisms. Skinner provided the theory of how the mind of an organism can be changed through reinforcement. By using the Skinner Box, Skinner showed how reinforcement worked and affected the brain (McLeod, 2015, p. 8). The Skinner Box was also a method to prove his theory on operant

The comparison between the minds of animals and the minds of humans and how they are similar was theorized and contributed to by Skinner. His development of his learning principles came from his research and work with animal behavior (Skinner box, 2016, p. 1) His discoveries in his work with animals lead to his theory that the minds of animals and humans are comparable. Skinner theorized that the behavior of a rat depends on its environment and relates this to humans (Burrhus Frederick Skinner, 2006, p. 3). His theory was supported by his other impactful contributions such as the Skinner Box and manipulated behavior. The Skinner Box demonstrated the effects of surroundings, and how they stimulated the reactions of an organism. Skinner established that the approach of the animals can be compared to how a human would approach the identical situation. Manipulated behavior has also had an effect on Skinners theory that the minds of animals and humans are alike. Skinner tested and applied manipulated behavior to animals primarily to ensure that the idea functioned properly. He advanced the idea on to humans and discovered similar results. Skinners theory on the similarities in the brains of humans and animals has positively impacted the field of psychology and has set up new methods of behavioral change. Through testing, Skinner revealed that humans and animals react to reinforcement similarly.