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B. F. Skinner Quotes


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Quotes by B. F. Skinner

Showing 1-10 of 42 Quotes by B. F. Skinner

The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.

~B. F. Skinner

Topics: Machines Men Problem Real Real Problem Think Whether

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A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.

~B. F. Skinner

Topics: Always Best Circumstances Failure May Mistake Real Simply Stop Trying

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The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount.

~B. F. Skinner

Topics: Amount Carried Important More Out Positive Reinforcement Than Way

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The ideal of behaviorism is to eliminate coercion: to apply controls by changing the environment in such a way as to reinforce the kind of behavior that benefits everyone.

~B. F. Skinner

Topics: Apply Behavior Benefits Changing Coercion Controls Eliminate Environment Everyone Ideal Kind Reinforce Such A Way Way

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Give me a child and I'll shape him into anything.

~B. F. Skinner

Topics: Anything Child Give Give Me Him Me Shape

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Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.

~B. F. Skinner

Topics: Been Education Forgotten Learned Survives

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If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your environment.

~B. F. Skinner

Topics: Change Environment Old Try You Your Yourself

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Behavior used to be reinforced by great deprivation; if people weren't hungry, they wouldn't work. Now we are committed to feeding people whether they work or not. Nor is money as great a reinforcer as it once was. People no longer work for punitive reasons, yet our culture offers no new satisfactions.

~B. F. Skinner

Topics: Behavior Committed Culture Deprivation Feeding Great Hungry Longer Money New Nor Now Offers Once Our People Reasons Reinforced Used Were Whether Work

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A person who has been punished is not less inclined to behave in a given way; at best, he learns how to avoid punishment.

~B. F. Skinner

Topics: Avoid Been Behave Best Given He How Inclined Learns Less Person Punished Punishment Way Who

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The consequences of an act affect the probability of its occurring again.

~B. F. Skinner

Topics: Act Affect Again Consequences Probability

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Biography

Nationality: American

Type: Psychologist

Born: March 20th, 1904

Died: August 18th, 1990

Links

Find B. F. Skinner on Amazon

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