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Some recurrent issues in the history of behavioral sciences
The Behavior Analyst
|April 6, 2012
Summary
Behavioral science topics like consciousness and cognition resurface cyclically. Issues abandoned as intractable may reappear with new theories and methods, explaining these recurring themes in scientific inquiry.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Sciences
- Cognitive Psychology
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- The 20th century witnessed recurring themes in behavioral sciences.
- Topics such as consciousness, introspection, and cognition have appeared, disappeared, and reappeared.
- This cyclical nature suggests underlying patterns in scientific progress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the cyclical nature of prominent issues in 20th-century behavioral sciences.
- To identify key concepts that have resurfaced throughout the century.
- To propose an explanation for the recurrence of these scientific topics.
Main Methods:
- Historical analysis of key concepts in behavioral science literature.
- Review of prominent theories and methodologies.
- Examination of the evolution of concepts like consciousness, introspection, and cognition.
Main Results:
- Consciousness (including nonhuman animal consciousness), introspection, and cognition (mental imagery, language in thought) are identified as recurring issues.
- These topics exhibit a pattern of emergence, abandonment, and re-emergence.
- The study highlights the dynamic and evolving landscape of behavioral science research.
Conclusions:
- The recurrence of intractable issues is explained by their reappearance with novel theoretical frameworks and methodological advancements.
- John B. Watson's suggestion regarding the cyclical nature of scientific problems provides a potential explanatory model.
- Understanding these cycles is crucial for appreciating the progression of behavioral science.
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