Beyond Freedom and Dignity (1971) by B.F. Skinner

When

I read this during my doctoral studies.

Why

I think it was assigned for a regular course, a reading seminar, or both.

How

Although my scholarship explores morality from developmental and constructivist perspectives, I appreciate what I think Skinner was trying to do with his theory of Operant Conditioning. The theory also holds a special place in my heart because it was the first psychological theory that got me interested in the discipline as an undergraduate. His framing of issues facing human behavior and social relations, and his explanatory mechanisms for addressing them, are valuable for thinking about moral development. Especially when comparing constructivist approaches like Kohlberg’s theory and Social Cognitive Domain Theory to socialization approaches, which owe part of their origins to Skinner.