Opening Skinner's Box  (English, Paperback, Slater Lauren)

In this book, Lauren Slater is out to investigate, through shocking and amusing accounts, some significant psychological experiments of the twentieth century. Some of these experiments have been spoken about in a more detailed manner and talks about what really went into these daring experiments.

Summary of the Book

This book speaks of the experiment that behaviorist B. F. Skinner is popularly known for. His experiments, which were carried out during the 1930s, showed the world the power of rewards and reinforcement and how it worked in shaping the behavior of a living being. It also analysis the truth about the legend of a child who was raised in a box. She discusses Stanley Milgram’s controversial experiment during the 1950s and how it was designed in order to explain obedience towards authority in the post-Holocaust world. She goes on to talk about the extremely distressing experiment that was carried out by David Rosenhan in the 1970s and how it led to the questioning and validity of psychiatric diagnosis. All of these experiments have been spoken of in several journals and textbooks for students, but this book narrates all these experiments in a story format.

About Lauren Slater

Lauren Slater is an American psychologist and writer who has authored seven books. She has received criticism for her research methods and it has even been said that some of the experiences that she has described may have been fictionalized.