Radical Behaviorism
Definition
Skinner's philosophy of the science of behavior. It treats private events such as thoughts and feelings as behavior subject to the same principles as public behavior, rather than as causes standing outside the analysis, and it seeks explanation in the person's environment and history rather than in a separate mental realm.
In plain language
The view behind ABA. Thoughts and feelings are real, but they are behavior too, and they do not explain other behavior by themselves.
Example
A learner says they feel nervous before a task. A radical behaviorist takes the report seriously and asks what in the situation produces both the feeling and the avoidance.
Not radical behaviorism
Saying the avoidance happens because of the nervousness and stopping there. That uses one behavior to explain another without looking at the environment.
Commonly confused with
See also
Written from
- skinner-1974
- skinner-1953
Written from Skinner (1953, 1974). No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.