Harry Hurwitz (psychologist)

Harry Hurwitz (born August 2, 1925, died November 29, 2017) was an American experimental psychologist known for his research in the areas of animal behavior, learning, and motivation. He held a distinguished career as a professor at Syracuse University, where he made significant contributions to the understanding of associative learning processes in both avian and mammalian species.

Hurwitz received his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1950. His research often involved the use of operant conditioning techniques to investigate the factors influencing choice, preference, and timing behavior. He explored the role of reinforcement schedules, delay discounting, and stimulus control in shaping behavior.

His work emphasized the importance of considering the historical context of an organism's experiences when interpreting its current behavior. He also contributed to the development of theoretical models of learning, particularly those related to the temporal dynamics of reinforcement.

Hurwitz authored and co-authored numerous articles in leading scientific journals, and his research had a lasting impact on the field of behavioral psychology. He was a fellow of the American Psychological Association and a member of the Society for the Quantitative Analyses of Behavior. He mentored many graduate students who went on to successful careers in academia and applied settings. His work continues to be cited and informs contemporary research in behavioral neuroscience and learning theory.