ABSTRACT

‘OPERANT behaviour usually affects the environment and generates stimuli which “feed back” to the organism. Some feedback may have the effects identified by the layman as reward and punishment. Any consequence of behaviour which is rewarding or, more technically, reinforcing, increases the probability of further responding’ (Skinner, 1959). After nearly three decades of persistent laboratory investigations (mostly with animals), Skinner and his colleagues are now exploring the application of operant conditioning in diverse areas of human behaviour. The topics which they have probed include the effects of drugs (Dews, 1956), attention (Holland, 1957), learning (Spiker, 1960), psychotic behaviour (Lindsley, 1956), motor behaviour (Verplank, 1956), verbal behaviour (Skinner, 1957; Krasner, 1958; Salzinger, 1959), therapy and the effects of therapy (Lindsley, 1961; King, et al. 1960), psychological functioning in retarded children (Orlando and Bijou, 1961; Spradlin, 1961; Ellis, 1962), personality (Staats et al., 1962; Brady et al., 1962), co-operative behaviour (Azrin and Lindsley, 1956).