the Skinner Box

The Skinner Box, developed by psychologist B.F. Skinner, is a controlled environment used to study animal behavior, particularly operant conditioning. Inside the box, an animal, often a rat or a pigeon, learns to perform specific actions, like pressing a lever, to receive rewards, such as food. The box features devices to deliver rewards or punishments, allowing researchers to observe how behavior changes based on reinforcement. This method helps illustrate how actions are shaped by consequences, shedding light on learning processes applicable to humans and other animals. It highlights the influence of rewards and punishments on behavior.