Private Event
Also called: covert behavior, private behavior
Definition
Behavior that only the person behaving can observe directly, such as thinking, feeling pain, or imagining. In radical behaviorism these are part of the subject matter, governed by the same principles as public behavior, and they are not treated as the causes of public behavior.
In plain language
Things a person does that nobody else can see, like thinking or feeling. They are still behavior, just hidden.
Example
A learner silently rehearses the steps of a routine before starting. The rehearsal is behavior, even though it is not visible to staff.
Not private event
A learner quietly humming. Quiet is not the same as private; another person can still hear it.
See also
Written from
- skinner-1953
Written from Skinner (1953) on private events. No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.