Abstract

His theories and ideas enveloped in a cloud of controversy, misunderstanding, and misinterpretation, B.F. Skinner has been labeled as an innovator, radical behaviorist, and challenger of our traditional ways of thinking about human behavior. What has made Skinner and his work such a target for controversy and debate? Exploring the fundamental premises and underlying assumptions behind Skinnerian psychology, this book offers an engaging and clarifying introduction to theories and writings of B F Skinner. The author traces the influences on Skinner through his early years, education, and the development of his career, and he reviews important findings from Skinner's research on behavior. Robert D. Nye furnishes a solid base for comparing Skinner to other thinkers as he explains Skinner's concepts of conditioning, reinforcement, and shaping, the use of teaching machines, and more. Focusing on Skinner's ideological struggle with Carl Rogers, he examines the disagreements between Skinner and the humanist psychological community. The author also discusses Skinner's views on the theories of Sigmund Freud, outlining their common ground and differences.