A credo for a revitalized behaviorism: characteristics and emerging principles

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Philosophy of Science

Background:

• Scientific psychology relies on fundamental assumptions about mental processes.
• Cognitive psychology, a dominant paradigm, is built upon specific premises regarding these processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine the foundational assumptions of scientific psychology.
• To evaluate the accessibility, analyzability, and reducibility of mental processes.
• To determine the viability of mentalistic cognitive psychology.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of fundamental assumptions in scientific psychology.
• Examination of three key questions: accessibility, analyzability, and reducibility of mental processes.
• Review of current research supporting or refuting the premises of mentalistic cognitive psychology.

Main Results:

• Current research findings do not substantiate the core premises of mentalistic cognitive psychology.
• The accessibility, analyzability, and reducibility of mental processes remain questionable under current research paradigms.

Conclusions:

• The premises of mentalistic cognitive psychology are not supported by existing evidence.
• A return to a modernized form of behaviorism is advocated for psychology to thrive as a science.
• Re-evaluating the scientific basis of psychology is crucial for its future prosperity.