Definition
Charles Ferster (1922 – 1988) was an American psychologist and behavior analyst noted for his research on operant conditioning, especially the development and analysis of schedules of reinforcement, and for his contributions to applied behavior analysis.
Overview
Ferrell earned his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Minnesota, where he studied under B. F. Skinner. He joined the faculty at the University of Kansas and later at the University of Washington, where he conducted experimental work on the effects of different reinforcement schedules on animal and human behavior. In the 1950s and 1960s he contributed to the formulation of the “cumulative recorder,” a device for graphically representing response rates over time.
Ferster co‑authored Schedules of Reinforcement (1972), a seminal text that systematically described fixed‑ratio, variable‑ratio, fixed‑interval, and variable‑interval schedules and their behavioral consequences. He also applied behavioral principles to clinical settings, developing behavior‑analytic interventions for sexual deviance and other maladaptive behaviors. Ferster was a founding member of the Association for Behavior Analysis (ABA) and served on the editorial board of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.
Etymology/Origin
The given name “Charles” derives from the Germanic Karl, meaning “free man.” The surname “Ferster” is of German origin, historically indicating a person from the town of Ferster (now known as Vörst), or potentially a variant of “Förster,” meaning “forester” in German.
Characteristics
- Research Focus: Operant conditioning, reinforcement schedules, quantitative analysis of response patterns.
- Key Publications:
- Schedules of Reinforcement (1972, with B. F. Skinner)
- A Textbook of Behavioral Science (1975)
- Numerous articles in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.
- Methodological Contributions: Development and refinement of the cumulative recorder; experimental designs for isolating the functional relations between behavior and reinforcement.
- Applied Work: Pioneered behavioral treatments for sexual arousal disorders, substance abuse, and other clinical problems using systematic reinforcement contingencies.
- Professional Service: Founding member of the Association for Behavior Analysis; mentor to early behavior analysts who later established applied behavior analysis (ABA) as a discipline.
Related Topics
- B. F. Skinner and radical behaviorism
- Operant conditioning theory
- Schedules of reinforcement (fixed‑ratio, variable‑ratio, fixed‑interval, variable‑interval)
- Applied behavior analysis (ABA)
- Cumulative recorder and behavioral measurement techniques
- Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
- Association for Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Charles Ferster’s work remains influential in both experimental and applied branches of behavior analysis, providing foundational concepts that continue to shape contemporary research and practice.