Skinnerian

American  

[ski-neer-ee-uhn] / skɪˈnɪər i ən /

noun

1. a psychologist who follows behaviorist theories developed by B. F. Skinner.

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adjective

1. of or relating to theories developed by Skinner, especially concerning operant conditioning.

Etymology

Origin of Skinnerian

First recorded in 1955–60; Skinner + -ian

Example Sentences

Language acquisition was something deeper than mere Skinnerian or Clever Hans-ish conditioning, but telling the difference between the two would be exceedingly difficult.

From Slate • Jun. 21, 2018

After Walden Two became popular, about three dozen communities declared themselves to be Skinnerian communes, Hilke Kuhlmann writes in Living Walden Two.

From The Verge • Jan. 24, 2018

It's this vicious Skinnerian cycle that conscious computing seeks to break.

From The Guardian • May 10, 2013

Skinnerian books make turning a page to find an answer and a new frame the equivalent of switching frames on a machine.

From Time Magazine Archive

Such boys, however, were in a minority, the spirit of the place being decidedly Skinnerian.

From The Way of All Flesh by Butler, Samuel