Skinnerianadj.n.
/skɪˈnɪərɪən/, U.S. /skɪˈnɛriən/ A. adj.
Of or relating to the methods and theories of the neo-behaviourist school of psychology associated with B. F. Skinner.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > behaviourism > Skinnerism > [adjective]
Skinnerian1949
1949 Philos. Rev. 58 357 If our behavioristic psychologists were omniscient and omnipotent—and perfectly benevolent—it might be right for them to apply the Skinnerian controls.
1965 Language 41 98 The extreme Skinnerian view that the correct inductive generalization can be accomplished with no need for anything more than positive instances.
1988 Washington Post 7 Aug. (Mag.) 10 For this he is rewarded, like some putty-headed Skinnerian pigeon, with praise and approval.
2006 P. J. Corr Understanding Biol. Psychol. i. vii. 217 To the Skinnerian psychologist, the inference of internal..states, such as emotion, are seen as unnecessary at best.
B. n.
A follower or adherent of B. F. Skinner or his school of psychology.
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the mind > mental capacity > psychology > behaviourism > Skinnerism > [noun] > adherent of
Skinnerian1959
1959 Admin. Sci. Q. 4 265 A true Skinnerian, he believed that if proper incentives were available, the individual response hierarchy could be tapped with surprising efficiency.
1977 H. J. Eysenck You & Neurosis v. 168 Skinnerian behaviourism has become a ‘school’, in the same way as Freudianism did many years earlier. Skinnerians concentrate exclusively on a very small area of psychology.
1998 S. Budiansky If Lion could Talk vi. 152 Terrace is still accused by ape language enthusiasts of being a closet Skinnerian deliberately out to debunk the whole field.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1949