Video and Audio

Please contact the B.F. Skinner Foundation if you would like to use these videos for any purpose other than personal viewing.

Pigeon Ping-Pong

In this video, B.F. Skinner conditions two pigeons to perform a chain of behaviors. As a result, pigeons engage in a competition, in the so-called "Pigeon Ping-Pong".

00:39

Turning Pigeon

In this video, B.F. Skinner conditions a pigeon to make a complete turn. Narrated by B.F. Skinner.

01:25

Schedules of Reinforcement

Schedules of reinforcement are discussed in this video. Reinforcement is delivered to different animals on a schedule that states the contingencies on which reinforcement depends. A white rat, a pigeon, and a Philippine macaque in operant chambers are shown. Interval schedule is contingent upon the passage of time. Ratio schedule is contingent upon the number of responses emitted. A variable ratio schedule (contingent upon an unpredictable number of responses) produces a very high and stable rate of responding.

1:24

Pigeon and a Red Block

In this video, a pigeon uses a red block as a stand. A pigeon positions itself on a block so that it can reach a banana.

No audio.

1:05

The videos below are in public domain. You can download them to your computer or embed on a webpage.

B.F. Skinner: A Fresh Appraisal

Davidson Films, Inc.

Using both archival and new footage, this video takes a new look at who B.F. Skinner was, and what he really said in his twenty books. Murray Sidman, Ph.D., colleague and thoughtful practitioner of behavioral analysis, narrates. (1999 40 minutes) (This is a 4-minute clip from the film). This film is part of the acclaimed Davidson Films, Inc. GIANTS series.

3:48

Interview with B.F. Skinner

B.F. Skinner discusses operant

conditioning, free will, and gambling.

3:53

The B.F. Skinner Foundation is working on digitizing video and audio files and making them available on the web. More media will be available soon. Make sure to visit this page again!