Book Review: Opening Skinner's Box Chapter 1 & 2 Summary

Reference:

Slater, Lauren. Opening Skinner's Box : Great Psychological Experiments of the Twentieth Century. New York :W.W. Norton, 2004.

Chapter 1:

The first chapter was captivating, particularly the exploration of Skinner's boxes and the concept of positive reinforcement. However, some aspects were confusing, especially the description and size of the boxes. I was perplexed by why Skinner thought confining his children in these spaces was beneficial. The initial paragraphs portray Skinner as a monstrous figure, suggesting he caused his daughter's death by driving her to madness through confinement. This harsh depiction was unsettling. As I read further, it became clear that Skinner did not confine his daughter in a small box but rather a playpen, which is more reasonable. Moreover, Skinner’s other daughter spoke positively of him, reinforcing the idea that he was a caring and compassionate father. Visiting Skinner's house, where much of his research was conducted, provided valuable insights into his studies and the significant impact his work has had on the world.

Chapter 2:

Having prior knowledge of Stanley Milgram's research, I appreciated the additional information about his other experiments and his life's trajectory. The author's use of a first-person perspective to describe the experiment was particularly engaging. It was enlightening to learn about the participants' experiences post-experiment and understand the reasons behind their disobedience. The interviews with disobedient participants offered a deeper psychological understanding, contrasting with the obedient 64 percent. The chapter also delved into Milgram's subsequent experiments, such as the finger-pointing experiment and the breaking-neck-of-mice experiment, broadening the scope of his work on human behavior and obedience. The author's perspective added a fresh and comprehensive view of Milgram's contributions to psychology.