Contemporary Behavior Research Articles

Skinner's Technology and Contemporary Behavior Modification: Separate and Not Equal

Skinner's Technology and Contemporary Behavior Modification: Separate and Not Equal

Kritische Bemerkungen zur gegenwärtigen Verhaltenstheorie / Critical remarks on contemporary behaviorism

Abstract This paper deals with three problems of contemporary behaviorism: the problem of the triviality of the Law of Effect; the problem of formalisation; and the problem of axiomatisation. As to the first problem a nontrivial version of the Law of Effect dating back to the early 1950s is reproduced and used to show that the versions offered today, besides being tautological (or methodologically unacceptable on other grounds), do not even answer a standard allowing them to compete with what was achieved already 25 years ago. The second and the third problem arise in connection with attempts to render the hypotheses of behaviourism more precise and to clarify their interrelations. Up to now efforts in this field have not produced much but pseudoprecision. What has been achieved by formalisation hardly exceeds mere translation from vague ordinary into vague formal statements. And in axiomatisation assertions rather than proofs of deducibility relations prevail. Since these defects are hidden behind a pretentious technical apparatus, however, it is to be feared that they will be neglected. And behaviourism thus risks to overestimate by far its level of theory formulation.

Analyses of Social Structure in Japan

The two studies under review, appearing so close together, offer conflicting portrayals of contemporary Japanese behavior and attitudes. They continue a near outworn but still fascinating debate: Does Japan have a unique social structure? Whether unique or not, has the Japanese social structure undergone change, and, if so, in what direction? What is the relationship between social structure, fixed or variable, and rapid industrialization, political transformation, demographic transition, largescale bureaucratization, and the like in present-day Japan? What may be learned from these relationships in Japan to gain insight about other national societies, advanced or less-developed? In their own distinctive ways, Nakane and Cole treat these questions brilliantly and convincingly-perhaps the most lucid presentations of these problems yet to appear in English. Their divergence lies primarily in disciplinary approach, analytical concept, and observational method. Together they sharpen the dilemmas in understanding Japan. More generally, their disagreement points up the difficulties of assessing the role of tradition in moder societies. For fullest benefit, one should be read only with the other.

Contemporary Sexual Behaviour Edited by J. Zubin and J. Money. (Pp. 468; illustrated; £6.75.) Johns Hopkins University Press: London. 1973.

Contemporary Sexual Behaviour Edited by J. Zubin and J. Money. (Pp. 468; illustrated; £6.75.) Johns Hopkins University Press: London. 1973.

Behavior Therapy and Job's Recovery

Job's recovery from a state of psychological helplessness is identified with the presence of therapy procedures which correspond closely with contemporary behavior therapy techniques. Accusations found in the conversations of Job's friends become increasingly intense and are equated with systematic desensitization. Elihu is viewed as providing a significant therapeutic contribution by distracting Job's attention from his own afflictions to the greatness of God. The voice from the Whirlwind, an intense, rapid series of questions, is equated with response prevention or flooding. Finally, evidence is presented showing that the therapy was successful, and Job recovered from his state of helplessness and depression.

Review of Contemporary psychology and effective behavior.

Review of Contemporary psychology and effective behavior.

Contributions to the history of psychology. XV. Uniformitarianism in geology and behavior modification.

A parallel is drawn between the geological principle of uniformitarianism and the presuppositions of contemporary behavior modification. The uniformitarian principle has four main aspects: (1) a concern with ultimate origins or ends is futile; (2) any change in topography is gradual rather than sudden, at least in terms of underlying events; (3) the forces that have effected change in the past continue to be operative today; and (4) the proper study of any phenomenon begins with its present state and the forces currently affecting it. Psychological examples of uniformitarian thinking are given for individual and for aggregate behavior.

Disciplinary barriers to progress in behavior genetics: defensive reactions to bits and pieces.

The broad perspective provided by an interdisciplinary approach to behavior genetics seems essential for the synthesis of available data and the application of resulting generalizations to the bias needs of society Such an approach has long been impeded by at tempts to determine how much of a particular behavior is contributed by heredity and how much by environment. Contemporary behavior geneticists view this approach as meaningless and suggest that the appropriate question is how heredity and environment interact to influence behavior. Increased emphasis on the underlying mechanisms of environment heredity interactions fosters interdisciplinary research by removing the need for extreme defensive reactions on behalf of either nature or nurture

Theory of Motivation.

"The main task of this book is to analyze the application of motivational concepts in contemporary behavior theory" (p 142). This analysis is done in four steps which arbitrarily represent four parts of the book. Step one is a brief and useful introduction to the philosophy of science. This is done in order to highlight what is entailed in an explanation of behavior. The second step (chapters 2 to 5) presents a historical perspective from which the author views later theoretical formulations. In this historical survey the contributions of Freud to motivational theory are properly acknowledged. What is refreshing in this survey is that Freud is seen as one of many, and not the<i>only</i>, motivational theorist. The third step (chapters 6 to 11) analyzes Hull's theory of motivation, especially the drive construct and the various properties it is to have. The last part of Bolles'

The role of implicit events in contemporary behaviour theory

The role of implicit events in contemporary behaviour theory

Linguistic Isomorphisms

The Wittgensteinian thesis that “the result of philosophy is not a number of ‘philosophical propositions,’ but to make propositions clear” has been given various interpretations by subsequent philosophers. Thus, for example, certain British philosophers have confined themselves to the analysis of colloquial language and have developed great skill in sophistical demonstrations intended to show that there is no such thing as a philosophical problem. Another group of philosophers considers language solely as a phenomenon of human behavior and attempts to clarify confusions and misunderstandings within language by utilizing the statistical techniques of contemporary behavior psychology. Still other philosophers, under the impact of logical positivism, have maintained that the clarification of propositions entails the construction of a language with precise rules of formation, transformation, and reference into which one could translate all the non-contradictory portions of ordinary spoken language.

Anti-Communist Mob Action: A Case Study

SOME OF THE EARLY students of public opinion regarded mob behavior as a primary object of investigation. Although apart from the mainstream of current opinion research, the mob still provides a field in which the transformation of attitudes to opinions, and opinions to action, may be observed, and where symbol manipulation and the phenomena of suggestibility may be studied. The following report by a social psychologist represents one of the most complete accounts of contemporary mob behavior now available. The author is now on the research staff of the Educational Testing Service, and was formerly a member of the faculties of social science at Stanford and the University of Oregon.