Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Behaviorism01:28

Behaviorism

The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
The Behavioral Perspective on Personality01:19

The Behavioral Perspective on Personality

Behaviorists view personality as primarily shaped by environmental reinforcements and consequences. According to this perspective, behavior is influenced by external stimuli, and individuals adjust their actions based on rewards and punishments. Over time, learning histories — accumulated patterns of reinforcement — play a significant role in shaping personality. Behaviors that lead to positive outcomes are reinforced, while those resulting in negative outcomes are diminished. Radical...
Law of Effect01:06

Law of Effect

B.F. Skinner, a prominent figure in behavioral psychology, introduced operant conditioning by emphasizing the role of consequences in shaping behavior. This theory builds upon the law of effect proposed by Edward Thorndike, which posits that behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are likely to be repeated. In contrast, those followed by unsatisfying outcomes are less likely to recur.
Edward Thorndike's foundational work involved studying learning in animals, particularly using puzzle boxes...
Operant Conditioning01:21

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning, a key concept in behavioral psychology, involves using reinforcement and punishment to alter the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. B.F. introduced this type of conditioning. Skinner focused on voluntary behaviors and the consequences that follow them, influencing whether these behaviors will be strengthened or diminished.
Reinforcement in operant conditioning can be positive or negative, both of which serve to increase the likelihood of a behavior. Positive...
Punishment01:27

Punishment

Negative reinforcement and punishment are often confused but serve distinct functions in behavior modification. Reinforcement, whether positive or negative, increases the likelihood of a desired behavior, while punishment decreases it.
Punishment can be positive or negative. Positive punishment involves adding an undesirable stimulus, such as scolding, to decrease a behavior. Negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus, such as taking away a favorite toy, to decrease behavior.
Primary and Secondary Reinforcers01:23

Primary and Secondary Reinforcers

In psychology, reinforcement is a key concept in behavior modification. B.F. Skinner demonstrated this with his experiments involving rats in what is known as a Skinner box. The rats learned to press a lever to receive food, a primary reinforcer that fulfilled their innate need for nourishment.
Effective reinforcers for humans vary depending on the individual and the context. Primary reinforcers, such as food, water, sleep, shelter, and pleasure, have inherent value and satisfy basic biological...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same authorSame journal

Skinner's verbal behavior: An update on the 1982 reference list.

VB news·2012
Same authorSame journal

A response to U. T. Place.

VB news·2012
Same author

Teaching intraverbal behavior to preschool children.

The Analysis of verbal behavior·2012
Same author

Selecting a response form for nonverbal persons: Facilitated communication, pointing systems, or sign language?

The Analysis of verbal behavior·2012
Same author

The role of automatic reinforcement in early language acquisition.

The Analysis of verbal behavior·2012
Same author

Automatic reinforcement and automatic punishment in infant vocal behavior.

The Analysis of verbal behavior·2012
Same journal

Evocative and repertoire-altering effects of an environmental event.

VB news·2012
Same journal

Vargas on the autoclitic.

VB news·2012
Same journal

The pigeon parlance project.

VB news·2012
Same journal

A note on the composition of response forms.

VB news·2012
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE
06:57

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

Published on: May 14, 2019

Skinner's verbal behavior: A reference list.

M L Sundberg, J W Partington

    VB News
    |May 11, 2012
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    This study compiles supportive literature for B.F. Skinner's Verbal Behavior (1957). It addresses the negative reception by presenting 136 references to encourage further behavior analysis research.

    More Related Videos

    Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures
    05:21

    Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures

    Published on: February 16, 2024

    Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
    09:00

    Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm

    Published on: October 3, 2020

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: May 22, 2026

    Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE
    06:57

    Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

    Published on: May 14, 2019

    Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures
    05:21

    Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures

    Published on: February 16, 2024

    Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
    09:00

    Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm

    Published on: October 3, 2020

    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral science
    • Psychology
    • Linguistics

    Background:

    • B.F. Skinner's Verbal Behavior (1957) has faced significant criticism in academic literature.
    • A prevailing negative sentiment often overshadows supportive research on Skinner's seminal work.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To counteract the predominantly negative citations of Skinner's Verbal Behavior.
    • To highlight and consolidate the existing body of literature that supports Skinner's framework.
    • To encourage further scholarly engagement and research in this area of behavior analysis.

    Main Methods:

    • A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify studies supporting Skinner's Verbal Behavior.
    • References were systematically gathered and categorized.
    • A total of 136 supporting references were identified and classified.

    Main Results:

    • The compiled list contains 136 references.
    • References are divided into two main categories: conceptual and experimental/applied.
    • This collection represents a growing body of supportive evidence.

    Conclusions:

    • The presented references offer a counterpoint to the negative discourse surrounding Verbal Behavior.
    • This compilation aims to stimulate further research and discussion within behavior analysis.
    • It underscores the ongoing relevance and support for Skinner's theoretical contributions.