Theorists

Harry Harlow and B.F. Skinner were both born in the early 1900s. Both of them made significant contributions to psychology. Harry Harlow became a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. B.F. Skinner became a professor at Harvard. Both of them experimented with animals to prove their theories. Harry Harlow experimented with rhesus monkeys, and B.F. Skinner experimented with pigeons and rats.

As for Harry Harlow’s and B.F. Skinner’s theories, they start to differ. Harry Harlow proved that children not only need food and shelter, but they also need love and affection. He proved this with his experiments on rhesus monkeys, where he created surrogate mothers, and it was shown that the monkeys preferred the mother that was soft and that they could cuddle with. B.F. Skinner developed operant conditioning, and also proved that the environment plays a significant role in shaping a being’s behaviour. Though B.F. Skinner’s theory is seen in Harry Harlow’s experiments as well. B.F. Skinner proved his theories through his experiments on pigeons and/or rats in his Skinner Box. Although Harry Harlow and B.F. Skinner proved different theories and used different experiments, there is a commonality in what they proved that they were more oriented to child psychology.

Some differences between the two psychologists are that Harry Harlow’s experiments were a lot more cruel than B.F. Skinner’s. B.F. Skinner’s experiments were a bit cruel as well though. Harry Harlow had a more chaotic social life, as he was married 3 times and had two children with two wives. B.F. Skinner was married once and had two children. I find it interesting that they were living in the same time, and I think it would have been interesting if the two of them had met.

Some theories that were proven many years ago are still used today. Sigmund Freud’s theory of the unconscious mind is still thought of. Although, his theory of the Oedipus complex isn’t used as much. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is still thought of today, I’m not sure if it is used. Harry Harlow’s theory that children need love and affection is still used. People today still believe that they should hug and kiss their child and show affection. B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning theory is still used today with parents and their children, and also with teachers and their students. Pavlov’s theory of classical conditioning is still used today.

Note: When I wrote one response, it wasn’t long enough, so I decided to do both. Hope that’s okay? :/