B. F. Skinner

Born in 1904 and raised in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, Burrhus Frederic Skinner is considered to be one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century. He is best known for his work on behaviorism, particularly the theory of operant conditioning. He was also a well-known author, writing books on psychology and philosophy, as well as well-regarded works of fiction. Much of his work is still widely read and studied today.

Skinner is considered to be the father of modern behaviorism, a school of thought which states that behavior is the result of external stimuli, rather than internal thoughts and recollections. He developed an experimental method known as operant conditioning, where an individual's behavior is changed by the application of external rewards or punishments. Skinner initially proposed this process in the 1930s, when working as a lecturer at Harvard University.

Skinner's other major contribution to psychology was in the field of reinforcement theory, which is based around the idea that behaviors can be modified by changing the way behaviors are reinforced or punished. This is distinct from classical conditioning, which was proposed by Ivan Pavlov, in that conditioning is not based on the mere presentation of stimuli and instead focuses on the effects of reinforcement.

In the 1940s, Skinner wrote his most famous work, the book titled "Science and Human Behavior". In it, he addressed a range of topics, such as animal behavior, cognition, learning, and the basics of behavioral psychology. He also discussed philosophical issues related to behaviorism and its implications for free will. In this book, Skinner argued that behavior is completely determined by external influences and is not affected by any mental processes or internal thoughts.

In the 1950s, Skinner began to focus much of his efforts on the development of a utopian society. He proposed a new type of society without money or government, which became known as the cognitive-control society. The idea was that human behavior could be modified by changing the way behaviors are reinforced. To that end, Skinner designed certain structures and machines designed to automatically change the environment of those living in the society, so that behavior would be more effective.

Skinner is also well known for his work on superstition and verbal behavior, as well as for inventing the Skinner box, a device used to conduct animal experiments. He wrote and published over 30 books throughout his lifetime, and had a number of notable and memorable quotes, such as: “A failure is not always a mistake; it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying".

In 1990, Skinner passed away at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of influential work on psychology, philosophy, and even fiction. He is remembered today as one of the most influential figures in psychology and behaviorism. His writings, theories and ideas are still widely studied and discussed, making his name well-known even today.