An examination of inner (private) and outer (public) behaviors

Abstract

If we accept that private and public events are behaviors, and as radical behaviorists we do, our next step is to classify them and then create a taxonomy in order to codify and count them. Focusing on inner behaviors, or as Skinner called them, private events, the taxonomy presented here consists of thoughts, feelings, and urges. Thoughts and feelings clearly fall within the operant realm, but urges most probably begin as respondent behavior. The paper presents the unique definitions of a thought, a feeling, and an urge.It also states the kinds of data used to show the possibility of counting and analyzing these three parts of inner behavior. Data analyses include the analysis of frequency, celeration, i.e., the rate of learning and changing, bounce or variability, and their relationship to an outer behavior. These analyses allow the comparison of individual performance and learning across different kinds of pinpoints and inner behavior projects, between behavers, and the relationship of inner to outer behaviors. In the final analysis, we see that inner behaviors function in the same way as outer behaviors do. Based on Skinner’s premise that inner behavior is not different in kind from outer behavior, and the research of Lindsley and others using the standard celeration chart, the science of human behavior can rest assured that inner and outer behavior share much in common. In summary, the observation, counting, and analyses of inner and outer behaviors show no functional difference.