Contemporary Behaviorisms in Debate

Description

This book presents and discusses seven contemporary theoretical approaches to behavior analysis that build upon the foundations laid by B.F. Skinner’s radical behaviorism and renew its legacy. These contemporary approaches show that behaviorism is not a monolithic or static intellectual tradition, but a dynamic movement, which changes and adapts in face of new questions, issues, and perspectives. The death of behaviorism has been proclaimed since its early days – a “premature” assessment, to say the least – but this volume shows that behaviorism is alive and kicking, even thirty years after its main proponent passed away. This volume contains seven sections, each one dedicated to a particular variation of contemporary behaviorism: Howard Rachlin’s teleological behaviorism, William Baum’s molar behaviorism and multiscale behavior analysis, John Staddon’s theoretical behaviorism, John Donahoe’s biological behaviorism, Gordon Foxall’s intentional behaviorism, Steven Hayes’ contextual behaviorism or contextual behavioral science, and Emilio Ribes-Iñesta’s field-theory behaviorism. Each section contains three chapters: the first one written by the original proponent of each of these forms of behaviorism, the second one written by a commentator, and the third one written by the proponent, replying to the commentator. Contemporary Behaviorisms in Debate will be a valuable tool to behavior analysts and psychologists in general by providing an introduction to contemporary forms of behaviorism and promoting debates about the main philosophical issues faced by the field of behavior analysis today— issues that can directly influence future epistemological variations in the selection process of “behaviorisms.” By doing so the book is directed not only to the present, but, more importantly, toward the future of the field. Preface Acknowledgments Contents Contributors Part I: Teleological Behaviorism Chapter 1: Teleological Behaviorism: Origins and Present Status Why I Am a Teleological Behaviorist Teleological Behaviorism Final Causes Mental Terms Internal Events in Teleological Behaviorism Psychological Investigation The Problem of Self-Control The Extended Self Reinforcing Self-Control and Social Cooperation References Chapter 2: Purposive Behavior and Psychological Categories: Thoughts on Teleological Behaviorism Teleological Talk, Yes, but in Rather Straightforward Selectionist Terms Overt Operant Behavior Makes Up Psychological Phenomena, but Covert Behavior and “Private” Stimuli, Too Ordinary Psychological Vocabulary in Behavioral Analysis Conclusion References Chapter 3: Response to Comments of Lazzeri References Part II: Molar Behaviorism Chapter 4: Introduction to Molar Behaviorism and Multiscale Behavior Analysis Brief Autobiography Molar Behaviorism Multiscale Behavior Analysis Critique of the Molecular View of Behavior The Law of Allocation Axiom 1: Only Whole Organisms Behave Axiom 2: To Be Alive Is to Behave Axiom 3: Every Activity Is Composed of Parts That Are Themselves Activities The Behavior-Environment Feedback System Multiscale Behavior Analysis and Evolutionary Theory The Accounting Problem: Defining and Measuring Activities Defining Activities Measuring Activities The Ontological Status of Activities Objects Versus Processes Classes Versus Individuals Conclusion References Chapter 5: The Molar View of Behavior: A Paradigm Shift in Behavior Analysis? The Molar View and Its Integrative Potential in Behavior Analysis The Molar Behavior-Analytic View: A Post-Skinnerian Proposal? The Molar View in Evolutionary Theory: Revolving Around the Genes Conclusion References Chapter 6: Genes, Selection, and Behavior: Response to Laurenti’s Commentary References Part III: Theoretical Behaviorism Chapter 7: Theoretical Behaviorism The Success of Skinner’s Method Skinner and Theory Problems with Atheoretical Behaviorism Response Rate Memory The Operant-Respondent Distinction Selection and Variation The Repertoire Education Summary References Chapter 8: What Is the Theory of Theoretical Behaviorism? Theory as “ism” Science as Theory The Cognitive Status of Scientific Theories Concluding Remarks References Chapter 9: Theory: A Response to Lopes References Part IV: Biological Behaviorism Chapter 10: Biological Behaviorism Biographical Sketch Prerequisites for the Integration of Behavior Analysis and Neuroscience The Experimental Analysis of Reinforcement Behavioral Analysis of Reinforcement Unified Reinforcement Principle Implications of the Unified Reinforcement Principle for the Temporal Relation of the CS or the Discriminative Stimulus to the SR-Elicited Response Implications of the Unified Reinforcement Principle for Operant Conditioning Implication of the Unified Reinforcement Principle for Blocking Neuroscientific Analysis of Reinforcement Dopamine and the Selection of Pathways Mediating Reinforced E-B Relations Specificity of the Neural Effects of Reinforcement: Long-Term Potentiation Implications of Reinforcement for Complex Behavior Acquisition of Verbal Behavior Autistic Behavior Concluding Comments References Chapter 11: Comments on “Biological Behaviorism” References Chapter 12: Reactions to Commentary on Biological Behaviorism References Part V: Intentional Behaviorism Chapter 13: Intentional Behaviorism Overview A Progressive Research Program From Consumer Behavior to Consumer Action A Model of Consumer Situation Consumer Behavior Setting Scope Pattern of Reinforcement and Operant Classes of Consumer Behavior Consumer Action Intentional Behaviorism A Summary of the Fundamentals A Little More Detail An Action Perspective Bifurcating Consumer Activity Consumer Choice A Degree of Akrasia Consumer Decisions in Temporal Perspective Theoretical Minimalism Hyperbolic Discounting Behavior Change Psychological Explanation Conclusions: The Intentional Consumer Situation References Chapter 14: Behavior Analysis and Psychological Concepts: Commentary on Foxall’s Intentional Behaviorism Limitations of Radical Behaviorism and Reasons for Intentional Idiom Evaluating the Criticisms of Radical Behaviorism The Ascription of Intentionality Epistemological Limitation or Absence of Empirical Evidence? The Search for Intentional Objects and Representations Conclusions References Chapter 15: Behavior Analysis and Psychological Concepts: Reply to Oliveira-Castro Introduction Intentional Behaviorism and Dennett’s “Kinds of Intentional Psychology” An Extensional Model of Consumer Choice The Intentional Model of Consumer Choice Levels of Exposition The Bounds of Behaviorism The Appeal of “Private Events” The Appeal to “Abilities” and “Propensities” The Imperatives of Intentionality The Need for a Personal Level of Exposition Extensional Language and Intentional Language Epistemological Limitation or Absence of Empirical Evidence? The Search for Intentional Objects and Representations Exemplar: The Innovative Consumer Conclusions References Part VI: Contextual Behaviorism Chapter 16: Contextual Behavioral Science as a Distinct Form of Behavioral Research and Practice Why Relational Frame Theory Led to Refinement of Radical Behaviorism Walking Through the Door Skinner Opened The Reticulated Research Strategy of CBS Theories and Models Nesting CBS Under the Umbrella of Evolution Science The Creation of CBS Models and Methods Summary References Chapter 17: Will the Wing Fly Away from the Body? A Commentary on Steven Hayes’ Chapter, Contextual Behavioral Science References Chapter 18: The Bottom Line Is Progress: All the Rest Is Commentary The Wonderous Plant References Part VII: Field-Theory Behaviorism Chapter 19: A Theory of Behavior or a Theory of Psychology? A Personal Biography A Theory of Behavior: A First Step From a Theory of Behavior to a Theory of Psychology Getting Back to Psychology’s Subject Matter Functional Contacts as States and Transitions of a Field Coupling Functional Contacts Functional Contacts by Alteration Functional Comparison Contacts Extension Functional Contacts Transformation Functional Contacts Extensions of the Field Model Intradisciplinary Extension Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Extensions Final Comments References Chapter 20: A Critical Appraisal of Ribes’ Theory of Psychology References Chapter 21: The Definition of Psychological Behavior and the Adequacy of Theoretical Concepts Are the Fundamental Issues: A Reply to Neves Filho and Magalhães Psychological Behavior Language Is Not Verbal Behavior Ideological Practices and the Complementation and Application of Scientific Knowledge Final Comments References Index