Science and Human Behavior: a tutorial in behavior analysis

Article Abstract:

B. F. Skinner's 'Science and Human Behavior' provides a basis for a completely deterministic science of behavior, helps in dealing with any issue in behavior analysis, and as a tutorial in behavioral interpretive analysis. Four general interpretive orientations or maxims that are of broad significance for behavior analysis are described along with two underappreciated major theoretical contributions.

United States, Evaluation, Authors, Writers, Criticism and interpretation, Skinner, B.F., Science and Human Behavior (Book)

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The role of motivation in the s-r issue

Article Abstract:

Donahoe et al imply that the only environmental variable encompassing environment-behavior relation selected by reinforcement is the stimulus immediately following the response. This fails to consider the motivative variable which is responsible for an event or stimulus condition functioning as a form of reinforcement. If the idea of motivative variables is to be added to the work of Donahoe et al and if Shull's (1995) behavior-analytic view is expanded to the extent of including the direct control of motivative variables over operant response frequency, then common interpretations from the two works can be derived.

Analysis, Motivation (Psychology), Operant behavior, Operant conditioning

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