Jack Michael

Jack Michael is a researcher, professor and author in the field of the experimental analysis of behavior best known for his elucidations of the motivating operation(MO), comprising Establishing Operation (EO) and Abolishing Operations (AO).

Biography

Michael was born on January 16, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. He has no siblings. His father was an automobile mechanic, His mother did not work outside of the home. He lived in a lower-middle-class neighborhood near downtown L.A. from the time he was 5 years old until he was drafted into the army at 18.

He attended elementary School from 1931-1937(walking distance from home), Junior High School from 1938-1940(short bike ride from home), and High School from 1941-1943. He was in the Boy Scouts for about 3 years, took drum lessons, and played in a youth orchestra/marching band.

Michael entered UCLA as a chemistry major in Fall 1943, completed one semester, then was drafted into the army in June 1944 (in the middle of his second semester). He did not do very well at UCLA—although he was a very good student in high school, when he got to UCLA he was only average or less than average in terms of college skills. He made a C average his first semester and about the same during second semester.