B. F. Skinner: Lasting Influences in Education and Behaviorism

B. F. Skinner (1904–1990) was an American psychologist, thinker, and innovator. He has been ranked as among the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century. In his life, he wrote 21 books, and over 180 articles ranging from human behavior to verbal behavior to the state of our world today. This does not include the numerous studies, innovations, branches of science, education, and therapies that can be traced back to his work. Even today, his work is referenced and utilized in multiple settings. While not all of Skinner’s ideas were accepted by his peers and contemporaries, there is no doubt he played a leading role in shaping the fields of education and psychology. This chapter cannot capture all of those ideas, but rather gives a broad overview of some of his major accomplishments, those impacts still felt today, and some of the criticism he faced. An in-depth look at his role on behaviorism and education is provided.