B.F. Skinner Foundation

07/28/2025

🌟 Skinner Session 2025 Speaker Spotlight 🌟

We’re beyond honored to welcome the legendary Dr. A. Charles Catania to this year’s Skinner Session — LIVE on October 11, 2025, via BehaviorLive! 🎥📅

Join Dr. Catania for the all-star panel:
“Translating Behavioral Principles: Connecting Research to Real-World Application”
Featuring:
🔹 A. Charles Catania, Ph.D.
🔹 Tim Hackenberg, Ph.D.
🔹 Sydney Berkman
🔹 Allen Neuringer, Ph.D.

🔬 About Dr. Catania:
Dr. Catania is one of the most respected and influential figures in the history of behavior analysis. His work spans more than six decades and bridges both experimental and applied domains of the science.

He is internationally known for foundational contributions in:
• Schedules of reinforcement
• Choice and timing
• Quantitative analyses of behavior
• Verbal behavior
• Evolutionary biology & natural selection parallels
• Behavioral pharmacology
• Avian vision and sensory systems

As a scientist, he has always emphasized that behavior is primary—that organisms evolved based on what they could do, with physiology serving behavior. His deep-rooted belief in behavior as a biological science has shaped his life's work.

🧠 Dr. Catania is the author of over 100 articles and book chapters, including three of the top 30 most-cited papers in JEAB. His textbook, Learning, is a cornerstone in the field and has gone through three editions.

He has served as:
• Editor & Review Editor of JEAB
• President of the SEAB Board (4 terms)
• President of ABAI
• President of APA Division 25
• Fellow of APA Divisions 3, 25, & 28

🏆 Some honors include:
• Fulbright Senior Research Award
• Don Hake Award (APA Div. 25)
• James McKeen Cattell Sabbatical Award

This is a rare opportunity to hear from a true pioneer whose insights have shaped modern behavior analysis.

🎟️ Early Bird registration ends August 31 — secure your seat now!
👉 Register here https://behaviorlive.com/conferences/SkinnerSession25/registration

07/27/2025

🎙️Verbal Behavior Deep Dive – Listen Now!

One of the 2024 projects from the B.F. Skinner Foundation was the launch of Dialogues on Verbal Behavior, a podcast series exploring the groundbreaking text Verbal Behavior chapter by chapter.

In this episode, Dave and David discuss chapter 13: Grammar and Syntax as Autoclitic Process.

Skinner explores how language structures like ordering responses, relational autoclitics, and predication shape communication.

Key takeaways:
✨ Relational autoclitics show agreement or possession (e.g., "The girl types" or "The girl’s doll"). ​
✨ Predication adds assertion, turning "Good chocolate" into "The chocolate is good." ​
✨ Autoclitic frames are functional units combining responses (e.g., "The ___ and the ___"). ​
✨ Manipulative autoclitics use conjunctions like "and" or "but" to guide listener behavior. ​

Skinner emphasizes that true autoclitics arise in novel situations, urging listeners to adapt their understanding. ​ Language is dynamic and fascinating!

Whether you’re a seasoned behavior analyst or just starting your journey into Skinner’s work, this series offers valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between speaker, listener, and environment.

Join David Palmer and David Roth as they dive into Chapter 13: Grammar and Syntax as Autoclitic Process ⏩ https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/b-f-skinner-foundation/episodes/Chapter-13-Grammar-and-Syntax-as-Autoclitic-Process-e2qsl2r

🎧 Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts – 19 episodes, 19 chapters. Dive in!

07/27/2025

Look what we found on Women in Behavior Analysis - WIBA attendees !

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7354913644540751872/?actorCompanyId=51645742

07/25/2025

Emaley & Nikia at 💕

07/25/2025

Emaley & Nikia at Women in Behavior Analysis - WIBA Conference!

07/23/2025

Are you at Women in Behavior Analysis - WIBA Conference? Snap a pic & tag us both!

07/23/2025

🐀 Behavior changes the world. So do monthly donors.

Why be a monthly, sustaining donor?

🧠 Preserve the Legacy of Behavioral Science
Your donation helps protect and promote the life’s work of B.F. Skinner, one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century. From the Skinner archives to digital educational resources, the Foundation ensures his legacy remains accessible, relevant, and accurate.

📚 Support Education and Public Access
We provide free, ad-free resources like Operants magazine and Ask a Skinnerian to help behavior analysts, students, educators, and curious minds explore behavioral science in an engaging way.

🔬 Fund Events That Inspire and Connect
Your donations help produce high-quality virtual events like the Skinner Sessions, which bring together leading scholars, practitioners, and students to discuss cutting-edge topics in behavior analysis—all while keeping registration costs low.

🧾 Expand Access to Archives and Historical Materials
The Foundation maintains and digitizes rare recordings, letters, and manuscripts from Skinner’s personal and professional life—ensuring future generations can learn from original source materials.

🌍 Build a Global Behavior-Analytic Community
With over 22,000 newsletter subscribers and a growing online presence, we’re connecting behavior analysts across disciplines and continents—and your donation helps us expand that reach.

💡 Because Science Needs Steady Reinforcement
Just like behavior, progress thrives on reinforcement. A recurring gift helps us plan and sustain long-term projects, educational campaigns, and new initiatives.

🌍 Join our reinforcement schedule: donorbox.org/support-the-b-f-skinner-foundation

07/22/2025

📣 Don’t miss out! 📣

Early Bird Registration for the Fall 2025 Skinner Session ends August 31! 🍂🧠

Join us LIVE on BehaviorLive this October for a powerhouse event celebrating Skinner’s legacy and the science of behavior.
🎤 Inspiring speakers
🔬 Cutting-edge discussions
📚 A community of passionate behavior analysts

💥 Lock in your discounted rate before it’s gone!
📅 Event Date: October 11, 2025
🎟️ Register now: https://behaviorlive.com/conferences/SkinnerSession25/home

Let’s shape the future of behavior analysis!

07/21/2025

Congratulations Alice!!

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Alice Shillingsburg from UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute, recipient of the 2025 Jack Michael Award for Outstanding Contributions in Verbal Behavior! 🏆

This award honors Dr. Shillingsburg’s exceptional leadership, scholarship, and impact on the field of verbal behavior. Her work continues to shape clinical practice, research, and training in meaningful ways. 👏

07/21/2025

🌟 Skinner Session 2025 Speaker Spotlight! 🌟

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Tim Hackenberg to this year’s Skinner Session—live on October 11, 2025, on BehaviorLive ! 🎥

Join us for the panel “Translating Behavioral Principles: Connecting Research to Real-World Application” featuring
🔹 Tim Hackenberg, Ph.D.
🔹 Sydney Berkman
🔹 A. Charles Catania
🔹 Allen Neuringer

From a chance introduction to behavior analysis in the late ’70s to a career spanning UC Irvine, Temple, University of Florida, and Reed College, Dr. Hackenberg’s path has been full of fortunate turns—and incredible impact.

🐀 His research on choice, foraging, self-control, token reinforcement, and behavioral economics has shaped the field across species and settings.
🧠 A prolific scholar, he’s received major funding from NSF and NIH, and in 2025, was honored with the SABA Award for Scientific Translation.
📚 Known for his creativity, rigor, and mentorship, Dr. Hackenberg has helped train the next generation of behavior analysts—and advance our understanding of behavior on a global scale.

Now retired and married in southern England, he spends his time bird-watching, dog-walking, and still shaping behavior through science and teaching.

🎫 Early Bird Registration is OPEN – only $80!
📅 October 11, 2025
📍 LIVE on
🔗 Register now https://behaviorlive.com/conferences/SkinnerSession25/registration

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the greats.

07/20/2025

🎙️Verbal Behavior Deep Dive – Listen Now!

One of the 2024 projects from the B.F. Skinner Foundation was the launch of Dialogues on Verbal Behavior, a podcast series exploring the groundbreaking text Verbal Behavior chapter by chapter.

In this episode, Dave and David discuss Chapter 12: The Autoclitic
Skinner's concept of autoclitics explains how we modify verbal behavior to influence listeners. ​ Autoclitics can describe, qualify, or negate statements, shaping how listeners interpret and react. ​ For example, adding 'It is' to 'raining' strengthens the statement when someone doubts it. ​ Negative autoclitics like 'not' cancel effects, while descriptive ones explain the source of verbal behavior, such as 'I read this in the paper.' These subtle verbal cues are key to effective communication. ​

Whether you’re a seasoned behavior analyst or just starting your journey into Skinner’s work, this series offers valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between speaker, listener, and environment.

Join David Palmer and David Roth as they dive into Chapter 12: The Autoclitic ⏩ https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/b-f-skinner-foundation/episodes/Chapter-12-The-Autoclitic-e2qi44o

🎧 Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts – 19 episodes, 19 chapters. Dive in!

07/18/2025

🎉 Sponsorships Still Available for the 2025 Skinner Session! 🎉
Help us elevate the legacy of behavioral science by becoming a proud sponsor of this premier event!

Whether you’re a practitioner, organization, or advocate for science and education, there’s a sponsorship tier designed just for you—with powerful perks and lasting impact.

🌟 $5,000 – Skinner's Legacy Sponsor
✔️ Pre-session video ad
✔️ Logo + QR in emails to 22K+ subscribers
✔️ Two custom emails to our full list
✔️ Exclusive Board Reception invite
✔️ Unlimited staff registrations
✔️ Recognition plaque
✔️ 30-min meet & greet with Dr. Julie Vargas, daughter of B.F. Skinner
✔️ Shout-out during the event + web presence
✔️ Skinner book set + swag for up to 50 staff

🤝 $2,500 – Foundation Friend Sponsor
✔️ Logo + link in 22K+ emails
✔️ Custom email blasts
✔️ Website + social media feature
✔️ Board Reception invite
✔️ Recognition plaque + event shout-out
✔️ Skinner swag for up to 30 staff

💎 Event Sponsorships Also Available!
🥇 $1,000 – Premium visibility + emails, on-stage recognition, and more
🥈 $500 – Email features, sponsor spotlight, and social media love
🥉 $250 – Public thank-you + name featured on website and emails

🔗 Ready to sponsor? Learn more and claim your spot:
https://behaviorlive.com/conferences/SkinnerSession25/sponsors

💡 Why sponsor? Your support keeps conference fees low and helps sustain the mission of the B.F. Skinner Foundation—preserving the past, shaping the future.