Skinnerian
Reinforcement-focused psychological approach
Skinnerian refers to the theories and methods of B.F.
Skinner, the American psychologist who developed behaviorism's most influential framework.
Skinner emphasized observable behavior over mental states, studying how rewards and punishments shape actions—what he called operant conditioning.
The classroom uses Skinnerian techniques like token rewards.
A Skinnerian approach treats behavior as something to be measured and modified through environmental control rather than explored through introspection.
Learned behavioral adaptation
- reinforcementAdding support or encouragement
- operantProducing an effect
- stimulus-responseInput-output behavioral pattern
- behavior modificationAltering conduct through reinforcement
contingency · shaping · extinction · punishment · reward · schedule · behavioral analysis · learning theory
Doctrine of causal necessity
- environmental controlRegulating surrounding conditions
- utopianImpractically perfect in conception
- social planningSystematic approach to societal improvement
- mechanisticViewing systems as machines
Lawyers' professional body
- behavior therapyPsychotherapy targeting observable actions
- classroom managementMaintaining order while teaching
- token economyRewards exchanged for privileges
- positive reinforcementStrengthening behavior through rewards
intervention · special education · self-management · addiction treatment · performance feedback · prompting · fading
Stout urban bird
- ratRodent or informer
- response rateProportion who answer
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
- animal behaviorActions of living creatures
conditioning
Learned behavioral adaptation
- reinforcementAdding support or encouragement
- operantProducing an effect
- stimulus-responseInput-output behavioral pattern
behavior modification · contingency · shaping · extinction · punishment · reward · schedule · behavioral analysis · learning theory · chaining
determinism
Doctrine of causal necessity
- environmental controlRegulating surrounding conditions
- utopianImpractically perfect in conception
- social planningSystematic approach to societal improvement
mechanistic · reductionism · functionalism · pragmatism · physicalism
ABA
Lawyers' professional body
- behavior therapyPsychotherapy targeting observable actions
- classroom managementMaintaining order while teaching
- token economyRewards exchanged for privileges
positive reinforcement · intervention · special education · self-management · addiction treatment · performance feedback · prompting · fading
pigeon
Stout urban bird
- ratRodent or informer
- response rateProportion who answer
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
animal behavior · baseline · acquisition · controlled environment
Skinneriancognitive
Relating to thinking
cognitivist · nativist · Freudian · mentalist · psychoanalytic
Skinnerianhumanistic
Centered on human values
existentialist · libertarian · voluntarist · free will · free-will
Skinnerianintrospective
Examining one's own mind
phenomenological · hermeneutic · qualitative · interpretive · subjective
Skinner, skin, skinned, skinning, skins, skinny, skinnier, skinniest, skinless