Linda,
I'm not sure why you want feedabck on these items. They are accurate
statements regarding misunderstandings of radical behaviorism.
Basically, many do not understand the distinction between 'Skinnerian'
or radical behaviorism and what some call methodological behaviorism,
the type developed by Hull and others. Many of these statements are not
misunderstandings of methodological behaviorism. Skinner was aware of
the limitations of methodological behaviorism and developed a philosophy
of science (radical behaviorism) that avoided these limitations.
Jim
Linda M. Woolf wrote:
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I'm using Walden Two in a class this summer and while surfing the web, I
> ran across a Walden Two community's web site (Los Horcones:
> http://www.loshorcones.org.mx/). On their web site (go to Brief
> Introduction and then to section on Misunderstandings about Behavior
> Analysis and Radical Behaviorism) is a discussion of what they identify
> as misunderstandings, They recommend that students direct their
> psychology instructors to this site.
>
> Anyway, it says the following. I would love to get your feedback on
> this.
>
> Behavior Analysis is misunderstood when:
>
> 1. It is said to be mechanistic, to consider human beings as machines,
> or robots without feelings,
> emotions or thoughts. See Behavior Analysis
>
> 2. It is said to be reductionistic, to consider psychological events as
> biological or physical.
>
> 3. It is said that it reduces human psychology to stimuli and responses.
> It is said to be based on
> Pavlov's ideas. It is said that human behavior is conditioned reflexes.
>
> 4. It is said to deny freedom and dignity, asserting that human behavior
> is predestined. It is said that
> human beings are slaves of circumstances and that nobody has dignity
> because nobody has merit.
>
> 5. It is said to be based on logical positivism, which means that we are
> able to study only that can be
> observed and verified by two people. It is said to deny the existence of
> feelings and thoughts because
> they can not be observed by others. It is said that human beings are
> black boxes.
>
> 6.It is said that it is not a science but Skinner's theory alone, that
> it is based on his very personal way
> of conceiving human behavior.
>
> 7. It is said that behavior scientists are interested in manipulating or
> controlling people.
>
> 8. It is said that it is a cold and dehumanizing science.
>
> 9. It is said that it denies the uniqueness of the individual, meaning
> that every person respond to the
> same stimulus in the same way. It is said that humans are machines.
>
> Thanks,
>
> linda
>
> --
> linda m. woolf, ph.d.
> associate professor - psychology
> webster university
>
> main webpage: http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/
> Holocaust and genocide studies pages:
> http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/holocaust.html
> womens' pages: http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/women.html
> gerontology pages: http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/gero.html
>
> mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
James S. MacDonall, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology
Fordham University
Bronx, NY 10458
718 817 3880
