PPt by Dakota Kandler BURRHUS FREDERIC SKINNER Family

PPt by Dakota Kandler BURRHUS FREDERIC SKINNER

Family Tree James Skinner (Fred’s Grandfather side) � Josephine Skinner(Grandmother father’s side) � � � Charles Burrhus (Mother’s side) Ida Burrhus (Mother’s side) � � � William Skinner (Father) Grace Skinner (Mother) Edward “Ebbie” Skinner (Brother, 2 years younger)

Burrhus Frederic (Fred) Skinner � Born 1904 � Spend first 18 years of his life in Susquehanna, PA � Lived next to Grand Street Cemetary �“Where children played among the departed”

James Skinner Arrived in America after Civil War � Two-Half brothers � Lived in NYC for a while, moved and settled in Starrucca (Near Susquehanna) � Met and Married Josephine Penn (Daughter of an impoverish farmer) � �Temporarily moved to Amesbury, MA ○ Tried to find work but failed and moved back to Starrucca �Had William Skinner and moved to Susquehanna

James Skinner (cont) � Found “odd job” employment �Usually as a painter � Sported a “Handle-Bar Moustache” � Later would be enthused by his son’s legal career �Would even attend court cases � Eventually goes deaf

Josephine Penn � Cat-like face � Childhood accident caused a permanent limp � Fred described her as “a woman who had whiskers, used too much make-up, had frizzy hair, and later wore a wig” � Pretentious personality �Wanted to conquer her lowly origin � Liked telling scatological jokes

Josephine Penn (cont) � Not adept at home �Vegetation always died �Preserves would explode � Many others saw her as grandmotherly and generous

Charles Burrhus � Grew up 50 miles northeast of Susquehanna in Walton, NY � Enlisted in State’s Volunteer Infantry in Civil War. �Came to Susquehanna to rebuild a bridge �Married Ida Potter � Worked as a carpenter, and became shop foreman

Charles Burrhus (cont) � “Never turned gray” and spent half a century in his shop � Purchased several new automobiles back when owning one was exceptional � Always urged Fred to “break the rules and enjoy life”

Ida Potter � Decendent of Captain Potter from Revolutionary War � A very attractive woman �Long skirts hid all but black-button shoes �Excellent cook+needlework, reader of fiction �Often sick �Emphasized the shortness of life �Died in 1923; left an unopenned letter for William, who “read a few lines and angrily tossed it into the fire”

William Arthur Skinner � “the vehicle of his mother’s dreams and ambitions” � Salutatorian of High School class �Worked as a draft’s man ○ Very little mechanical aptitude � Enrolled in Law School in NY �Supported himself as a book keeper in half- uncle’s store on Broadway �Received written letter instead of diploma

William Skinner (cont) � Became politically active for America’s Future �Gave highly praised speech for Mc. Kinley- Roosevelt Club at Montrose, the Sasquehanna County Seat �Spoke at Political Rallies through WWII � Gained local prominance, was rendered attractive to largest corporation �Becoming dependant on accountants and lawyers � � Caught eye of Eire Railroad Married Grace Madge Burrhus April, 1902.

Grace Madge Burrhus � Oldest of four children (3 years William’s junior) � Only she and her brother Harry survive to adulthood � “Chestnut hair and shapely figure” �Many suitors � Wonderful contralto voice �Local acclaims ○ Prospective musical career

Grace Madge Burrhus (cont) � Sang at Universalist Church benefit of 1896 �Sang in a local group and Opera Kept newspaper clippings of her music triumphs � Attended Susquehanna High School � �Salutatorian � Learned to type and shorthand �Secretary to Mechanical Superintendent of Erie Railroad �Sacrificed career after marrying William Skinner �“Impressed by Skinner’s rising reputation”

Childhood � Fred and Ebbie grew up in an atmosphere where negative behaviors resulted in dire consequences to moral and physical health �Middle class prominance � Equality not present �Ebbie would get away with more than Fred � Grace passed a social code to Fred �Used “tut-tut” as a warning when Fred did something wrong

Childhood (cont) � Social Policing made Fred very sensitive to praise. �Would play a part in his future psychology research � Fred generally tried to disguise ill feelings toward mother

Adolescence � Fred was smitten by his mother’s romantic presence �Dated girls who shared her physical traits ○ One shared her name � Ebbie shielded Fred from the overweaning attention he would have received if an only child �Captured almost all of parent’s affection �Was very popular in High School

Adolescence (cont) � Fred read a lot of books � Francis Bacon � Discovered Edwin Durning-Lawrence � Became uneasy with oppresive parents and community � Would eventually rebel against the village ○ Never would really leave him � Felt his parents could not evaluate an experiment � Gave them up as sources of praise, never found a replacement � Didn’t make a psychological connection at the time � Felt his lack of connection with them made him into something he was not

Adolescence (cont) � Fred had difficulty with girls �Dated few women in High School ○ Unnamed Irish Catholic Girl �Ranked boys in school, determined their sexual privilages - Wouldn’t let Fred “anywhere above the knee” ○ Margaret Persons �The real love of his high school career �Relationship ended when he went to college

College Went to Hamilton College � Entered a world where he didn’t have a reputation that preceded him � Would live here for four years � �Considered it a more traditional America Was one of 111 incoming freshman � Hamilton placed great emphasis in writing and public speaking � �Students needed to spend 3 -4 weeks preparing an oral presentation

College (cont) � Fred discovered he was as not sophisticated with language as he thought he was �Misprounounced “d” as “j” and “e” as “I” ○ Mortified him � Hamilton required pledging a fraternity �Pledged Beta Kappa (Local Fraternity) ○ Eventually became Lambda Chi Alpha �Choice of fraternity demonstrated naïveté and showed how little help his parents were ○ Would still bother him in later years when asked about the crowd he was a part of

College (cont) Was required to attend chapel daily � Very few excused absences � Fred joined Glee Club but didn’t help shaken self confidence � Had very average grades � Was an excellent writer � Found himself detached and unhappy with his social and intellectual predicament � �Suffering that year moved Fred toward characteristics of an objective scientist

Tragedy � � � April 7 Parents were at Sunday Service Ebbie needed to use bathroom � Remerged with excruciating headache and needed to lie down � Ebbie asked for doctor, but fainted before one arrived � Food ran down mouth without constrictions of vomiting � Autopsy diagnosed as acute indigestion � Fred showed report to Physician, diagnosed as massive cerebral hemorrhage � Was the start of the downfall of William Skinner’s business

College (cont) � Returned to Hamilton in September for Year 2 � Had connections �Friends with “One of the most intellectually accomplished and artistically cultivated families” �Arthur Percy Saunders ○ College Dean and Chemistry Professor ○ Drew students into a sophisticated atmosphere

College (cont) � More girls � High school mindset made him awkward with women ○ Cynthia Ann � Whole campus knew of his crush � His love was “deep and painful but not primarily sexual” � 1924, she wanted to make love with him - Awkwardly refused to go through with it - Broke off with Fred a few days letter � Would spiral into a depression over it for months � Second Year in review � Was a pivotal point for Fred � Found himself as a student of emerging academic interest

College (cont) � Refound his love of writing � Year Three: �Professor Calvin read one of his essays, accused Fred of Plagiarism ○ Writing was extremely professional �Boosted Fred’s emerging conviction to be a writer ○ Met Robert Frost and Carl Sandburg at “Bread Loaf School of English” ○ Was told to send his samples to Frost

College (cont) � Several more “sexually experienced” friends took Fred to a Red Light District. �Started to feel that some men would have saved themselves awkward marriages if they spend their first time at a whore-house. � Year Four: Focused on his Literary interests �Took a lot of Debate, and studied Shakespeare and Elizabethan Drama �Entered for the $200 William Duncan Saunders Prize for Creative writing which he won.

After College (Early Years) Decided to live at home and try to write a novel. � His William was concerned for Fred’s financial future � Read from many different authors, and developed a writer’s block depression � Watched his grandfather die, left a lasting mark. � Was introduced to John B. Watson in 1926 through The Dial and discovered behaviorism �

After College (Early Years cont) � Established a pattern of working �“Every morning I read, study, and write…. there’s one interuption only: my mail is brought to me. Except for that I see no one; just write, think, and judge what other people are thinking about. In the afternoons I work at the bench…making [the ships] is great fun. ” � Would carry this pattern for all of his life

The Beginning of a new Ideology � Family trip on the S. S. Harding �Was reading when he heard the sound of a bugle ○ Was customary for announcing dinner was served ○ Went back to reading after dinner �When he approached where the bugle rang, he had a response. “the very thing Pavlov would have predicted” � He decided to return to school, attend Harvard and study Psychology

Harvard Enrolled in several Psychology and Physiology Courses as well as German for a language requirement. � Wrote a letter to his father, explaining his goals for returning to school. Never mentioned reviving writing plans, which pleased his father. � Focused on Physiology and Psychology when there were still new historical developments paving the way �

Harvard (cont) � � � Skinner “denied that behavior is determined by processes within the physiology of the organism” Developed a gadget that would silently open doors with compressed air when introducing a rat into an apparatus for solving problems. Would later be known as the “Skinner Box” Would use both Rats and Pigeons in order to study the behaviors and responses of animals in experiments in a sealed controlled environment This was the highlight of his Harvard Career https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=I_ct. Jqjlr. HA

Yvonne Blue � Was introduced to Fred through a mutual friend in Harvard � Enjoyed literary conversation over gourmet food � Were soon engaged and met mixed criticism from William and Grace, but approval. � Fred felt the need to marry her for the love, but also the emotional support after college

Yvonne Blue (cont) � Felt that she didn’t want to be a “faculty wife” and broke off the engagement �Soon afterward Fred visited her in Chicago, and they made up. � Married November 1, 1936 � Had their first child Julie, in 1938 � Yvonne wasn’t very happy, but slowly transitioned

Marriage � Their only real common interest was literature � Divergence of other interests �She liked dance, he wasn’t good at it �He liked symphonies, she found them tiresome � 1945 Fred took an offer become chairman of the Psychology Department at Indiana University �Yvonne loathed the small, provincial town

Project Pigeon � April 1940, Fred boarded a train for Chicago to attend a Midwestern Psychology Association meeting � Saw birds as potential devices to help in WWII. �“with extraordinary eyesight and maneuverability, could they not guide a missle? ” �https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=v. Ib. ZB 6 r NLZ 4

Second child Deborah � Fred decided to simplify care for his second daughter �Attempted to use Skinner box ideas for tending to Deborah’s needs. �He built a “thermostatically controlled, enclosed crib with safety-glass front and a stretched-canvas floor ○ “the Baby tender” �Would be Deborah’s home for the first two and a half years of her life.

The Baby Tender � the baby tender would restrain and protect the infant while providing remarkable freedom of movement. �“A crib sized living space” � Was created to not only help with Skinner, but with returning war-veterans who needed assistance in adapting to a new family life. �Made the life of the housewife easier � “The Air Crib” and Heir Conditioner

Walden Two � https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=w 3 Ht Cntc. LEU (6: 50 -8: 20)

Media attention through the years � Fred was never really free from the media � This was best represented in 1971 when his new book Beyond Freedom and Dignity was published � Received much criticism as people thought he was against the American way. � Wasn’t so much the content, but the way it was written

Later Years Yvonne and Fred continued their marriage well into their later years at Old Dee Road residence at Cambridge. � Fred claimed that he tried to maintain a happy environment for Yvonne. � Deborah married and moved to London � � Would visit Europe and London to see their daughter � � Fred retired from Harvard in 1974 Produced much work during the last two decades of his life. � Worked on an autobiography. � Three Volumes

Later Years (cont) 1981 a cancerous lesion was found in his head and removed � 1987 he fell down his basement stairs and suffered a life-threatening subdural hematoma. � �Would go into surgery twice to relieve pressure on his brain � While visiting Yvonne in the hospital with embolism, Fred fainted and was told to have cancer and 6 -12 months left to live �Died August 18, 1990 at 96 years old

Controversy explained � 1) Did Skinner deny the American Way? �A: No, he merely felt that it was the American right to shape their future. � 2) Was Deborah negatively affected by the “Air Crib/Baby Tender” �https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=m. RNf 1 R se. GXQ