The Psychology of B F Skinner

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In The Psychology of B. F. Skinner, William T. O’Donohue and Kyle E. Ferguson not only introduce the life of one of the most influential psychologist of the past century but also put that life into historical and philosophical context. In so doing, they illuminate Skinner’s contributions to psychology, his philosophy of science, his experimental research program, and the behavioral principles and applied aspects that emerged from it. They also rebut criticism of Skinner’s work, including radical behaviorism, and discuss key developments others have derived from it. Behaviorists, or more precisely Skinnerians, commonly consider Skinner’s work to have been misrepresented, misunderstood, and, to some extent, even defamed. The authors take great care in accurately representing both the strengths and the weaknesses of his positions. They also attempt to correct misinterpretations of his work. Finally, they guide students through Skinner’s theories and demonstrate their applications and usefulness via extensive examples and illustrations.