20th Century · Psychology (Behaviorism)
Burrhus Frederic Skinner (1904-1990) was an American psychologist, behaviorist, author, inventor, and social philosopher. He was a leading proponent of radical behaviorism, which emphasizes the role of environmental contingencies in shaping all behavior, including private events like thinking and feeling. He developed the experimental analysis of behavior, invented the operant conditioning chamber (Skinner box), and proposed applications of behavioral principles to education, therapy, and social design.