Toward an Experimental Synthesis of Behavior

Abstract

A unifying paradigm for psychology is proposed, based on the experimental analysis of behavior. I t is called the experimental synthesis of behavior (Ardila, 1988, 1990). The main characteristics of this paradigm include six points, beginning with (1) a behavioral level of explanation. Psychology has its own level which includes the behaviors of organisms and their varied relations to the environment. These are not reducible to biology or to social science. Also, (2) the method is experimentation, but in the initial stages importance often is given to observational and correlational procedures. (3) Emphasis is on learning; human behavior is primarily learned. (4) A wide range of phenomena are to be explained. These include all the traditional fields of psychological research. (5) Emphasis is also on the environment, both social and physical. (6) The basic technology is derived from the behavioral sciences. The experimental synthesis of behavior as proposed is based on Kuhn's analysis of history of science (1970). This is a paradigm that is designed to overcome the current limitations and address the crisis regarding lack of unity in psychology. This programmatic approach is a third-generation behaviorism, the goal of which is the integration of contemporary psychology. A large number of projects are currently in process within the experimental synthesis of behavior. These are being conducted in several countries.