Contingencies of Reinforcement: A Theoretical Analysis
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after the heart of his science of behavior. Contingencies relate
classes of actions to postcedent events and to the contexts in which
those action-postcedent relations occur. The basic processes seem
straightforward, but many people do not know or understand the
underlying theory. Skinner believed that ‘a theory is essential to the
scientific understanding of behavior as a subject matter”. This book
presents some of Skinner’s most sophisticated statements about
theoretical issues. To his original articles, he added notes to clarify
and expand subtle points. The book thus provides an overview of
Skinner’s thinking about theory and the philosophy underpinning the
science he began.
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Burrhus Frederic "B. F." Skinner (March 20, 1904 – August 18, 1990) is
America’s best known behavioral scientist of the 20th century, as well
as an influential author, inventor, and social philosopher. He was the
Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University from 1958
until his retirement in 1974, and was awarded both National Medal of
Science from the National Science Foundation and Humanist of the Year
Award from the American Humanist Society. Skinner was a prolific author
who published 21 books and 180 articles.
A study that appeared
in the July 2002 issue of the Review of General Psychology created a
ranking of the 99 most influential psychologists. The rankings were
based on three main factors: the frequency of journal citations,
introductory textbook citations, and the survey responses of 1,725
members of the American Psychological Association. B.F. Skinner topped
the list, ranking ahead of Sigmund Freud.
Recent years have
seen increased interest in B. F. Skinner’s works. The sales of his most
well-known books are growing every year. For example, despite a fair
share of criticism and controversy, Skinner’s 1957 book, Verbal
Behavior, draws more interest today than it did 15 years ago. The B.F.
Skinner Foundation, the current publisher of this book, has seen the
annual sales more than triple from 1998 to 2012. The main reason for
the increased sales is most likely the success of Skinner’s analysis for
teaching children with autism to communicate effectively.
