Demonstrates a point in Dr Burrhus Frederick Skinner’s research on the psychology of learning: draws an analogy between human behaviour and that of a pigeon, and demonstrates the principle that behaviour reinforced by a reward is learned, while non-reinforced behaviour is abandoned. Shows how pigeons are taught abnormal behaviour patterns by means of selective reinforcement of response and how the removal of the reinforcement causes the gradual extinguishing of the learned response. Derives from the experiments basic principles about learned behaviour which are applicable in the training of children.

McGraw-Hill Book Co. 1956, Public Domain.