just what is a skinner box, and who TOOK JOHN'S CHEESE?

A Skinner Box is a self contained device that, after proper conditioning, an animal within, responding to outside stimulus (a sound, light bulb going on, etc.) would perform a trained behavior to get a reward. My first experience with Skinner boxes came when I was very young and visiting the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Back in the '50's, for a penny, you could watch a trained chicken throw basketballs in a hoop, dance around or perform other human oriented behavior. I would imagine that they were banned on the basis of cruelty to animals. ( http://www.k9care.com/Tip-Home%20is%20not%20a%20Skinner%20Box.htm )

SKINNER BOX: