Learn About The 50 States
B. F. Skinner (1904)close
Born Burrhus Frederic Skinner in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, Skinner attended Hamilton College and majored in English. He became interested in behavioral psychology after reading the works of John Watson and Ivan Pavlov, and received a degree in psychology from Harvard in 1931. Skinner is best known for his experiments with operant conditioning, a process by which animals and humans can be "trained' to behave in particular ways by consistently rewarding (or reinforcing) the desired behavior.
Click on any of the names below to find out more...
Looking for a famous American?
This page presents short biographies of more than 200 famous Americans drawn from our unit, "The 50 States." These personalities are arranged by theme.
Just click a theme at the top of the page to view a selection list for that theme.
African Americans:
Artists:
Business Leaders:
National "Characters":
| Phineas Taylor "P.T." Barnum | Clyde Barrow | John Wilkes Booth |
| Butch Cassidy | William "Buffalo Bill" Cody | Davy Crockett |
| Jesse James | Evel Knievel | Harland David "Colonel" Sanders |
| Jefferson R. "Soapy" Smith |
Cultural Figures:
Inventors:
Pioneers and "Firsts":
Politicians & Activists:
Scientists:
Sports Figures:
Accomplished Women:
Writers & Poets: