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Contingency Horizon: on Private Events and the Analysis of Behavior
1Department of Psychology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA 99258 USA.
The Behavior Analyst
|June 9, 2016
Summary
Skinner's radical behaviorism includes private events, but challenges arise from teleological and molar behaviorism. This study supports the functional role of private events using diverse evidence and an integrated perspective.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Philosophy of Psychology
Background:
- Skinner's radical behaviorism posits private events as biologically based phenomena.
- Challenges from teleological and molar behaviorism question the necessity of private events.
- Existing theories debate the role of private events versus overt behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the functional role of private events in behavior.
- To present evidence supporting the inclusion of private events in behavioral analysis.
- To offer an integrated perspective on private and public behavior.
Main Methods:
- Review of published research in behavior analysis and experimental psychology.
- Analysis of verbal behavior from participants in the theoretical debate.
- Development of a multiscaled analytical framework.
Main Results:
- Evidence supports the functional characteristics of private events.
- Published research across disciplines corroborates the role of private events.
- Verbal behavior analysis reveals nuanced perspectives on the debate.
Conclusions:
- Private events play a demonstrable functional role in behavior.
- An integrated, multiscaled analysis is necessary for a comprehensive understanding.
- Radical behaviorism's inclusion of private events is supported by empirical evidence.
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