Final answer:
BF Skinner was concerned with observable behaviors and how they are influenced by consequences like reinforcement and punishment. He was not concerned with internal cognitive processes, viewing the mind as an unknowable 'black box' and thus unimportant for his scientific studies in behaviorism.
Step-by-step explanation:
What was BF Skinner concerned about and what was he not concerned about in his approach to psychology? B.F. Skinner, a prominent American psychologist and behaviorist, focused primarily on the external behaviors of organisms and how these behaviors were affected by the consequences, including reinforcement and punishment. Skinner developed the operant conditioning chamber, commonly known as the Skinner box, which became a pivotal tool in behavior research.
Skinner was not concerned with the internal cognitive processes such as thoughts and expectations. To Skinner, the mind was a "black box" which was not to be scientifically studied. In contrast to his contemporaries who were exploring cognitive aspects of behavior, Skinner concentrated exclusively on observable behaviors and the conditions that influence these behaviors, a stance known as radical behaviorism.
Skinner's views were based on the law of effect, which asserts that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are likely to be repeated, while those followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated. Thus, Skinner was deeply concerned with the external, measurable aspects of behavior and the environmental factors shaping it, using his research to help build the foundation of behaviorist theory in psychology.