Interpretation: An Aim and a Method of B. F. Skinner’s Science
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e37217%20Keywords:
Interpretation, Behavior Analysis, B. F. SkinnerAbstract
This paper has the general purpose of presenting Skinner’s vision of interpretation, both as aim and method. Besides, it has as specific purposes (a) to define interpretation, according to Skinner; (b) to indicate when and how the author defends its accomplishment; (c) to relate interpretation with other aims and methods proposed by Skinner; (d) to indicate contributions and limits of interpretation, according to the author. In this regard, we examined 35 texts of Skinner related to the subject, published between 1931 and 1990. Both as aim and method, we show that interpretation offers theoretical, methodological, and technological contributions to Skinner’s science, although it presents limits related to its inferential and speculative nature, as well as to its plausible and sometimes temporary format.
Downloads
References
Andery, M. A. P. A. (2010). Métodos de Pesquisa em Análise do Comportamento. Psicologia USP, 21, 313-342. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-65642010000200006
Andery, M. A. P. A., Micheletto, N., Sério, T. M. P., Rubano, D. R., Moroz, M., Pereira, M. E., Gioia, S. C., Gianfaldoni, M., Savioli, M. R., & Zanotto, M. L. (2003). Olhar para a História: Caminho para a Compreensão da Ciência Hoje. Em M. A. P. A. Andery, & N. Micheletto (Orgs.), Para Compreender a Ciência: Uma Perspectiva Histórica (5ª Ed., pp. 9-15). EDUC.
Andery, M. A. P. A., Micheletto, N., & Sério, T. M. A. P. (2004). Publicações de B. F. Skinner: De 1930 a 2004. Revista Brasileira de Terapia Comportamental e Cognitiva, 7, 93-134. https://doi.org/10.31505/rbtcc.v6i1.69
Baum, W. (2011). Behaviorism, Private Events, and the Molar View of Behavior. The BehaviorAnalyst, 34, 185-200. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392249
Caldas, A. (2011). Novíssimo Aulete: Dicionário Contemporâneo da Língua Portuguesa. Lexikon.
Donahoe, J. W. (1998). Interpreting verbal behavior. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 15, 107-112. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392929
Donahoe, J. W. (2004). Interpretation and Experimental Analysis: An Underappreciated Distinction. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 5, 83-89. https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2004.10446387
Donahoe, J. W. & Palmer, D. C. (1989). The Interpretation of Complex Human Behavior: Some Reactions to Parallel Distributed Processing, edited by J. L. McClelland, D. E. Rumelhart, and the PDP Research Group. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 51, 399-416. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1989.51-399
Hayes, S. C. (2010). The Scientist as Behaving Organism. Behavior and Philosophy, 38, 169-171.
Hayes, S. C., & Brownstein, A. J. (1986). Mentalism, Behavior-Behavior Relations, and a Behavior-Analytic View of the Purposes of Science. The Behavior Analyst, 9, 175-190. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03391944
Holland, J. G. (1992). B. F. Skinner (1904-1990). American Psychologist, 47, 665-667.https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.47.5.665
Holland, J. G., & Skinner, B. F. (1961). Techniques and Aims of Science. Em J. G. Holland, & B. F. Skinner (Orgs.), The Analysis of Behavior: A Program for Self-Instruction (1ª Ed., pp. 276-280). McGraw-Hill.
Leigland, S. (2010). Functions of Research in Radical Behaviorism for the Further Development of Behavior Analysis. The Behavior Analyst, 33, 207-222. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392220
Moore, J. (2011). Methodological Behaviorism as a Radical Behaviorist Views It. Behavior and Philosophy, 39, 145-202.
Morris, E. K. (1992). The Aim, Progress, and Evolution of Behavior Analysis. The Behavior Analyst, 15, 3-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392582
Palmer, D. C. (2009). The role of private events in the interpretation of complex behavior. Behavior and Philosophy, 37, 3-19.
Palmer, D. C. (2011). Consideration of Private Events is Required in a Comprehensive Science of Behavior. The Behavior Analyst, 34, 201-207. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392250
Palmer, D. C., & Donahoe, J. W. (1991). Shared Premises, Different Conclusions. The Behavior Analyst, 14, 123-127. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392561
Skinner, B. F. (1965a). A Science of Behavior. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Science and Human Behavior (1ª Ed., pp. 11-22).The Free Press.
Skinner, B. F. (1965b). Why Organisms Behave. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Science and Human Behavior (1ª Ed., pp. 23-42). The Free Press.
Skinner, B. F. (1969a). The Experimental Analysis of Behavior. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Contingencies of Reinforcement: A theoretical analysis (1ª Ed., pp. 75-104). Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Skinner, B. F. (1969b). The Phylogeny and Ontogeny of Behavior. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Contingencies of Reinforcement: A Theoretical Analysis (1ª Ed., pp. 172-217). Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Skinner, B. F. (1969). The Role of the Environment. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Contingencies of Reinforcement: A Theoretical Analysis (1ª Ed., pp. 3-28). Appleton-Century- Crofts.
Skinner, B. F. (1976a). Summing Up. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), About Behaviorism (1ª Ed., pp. 241- 277). Vintage Books.
Skinner, B. F. (1976b). The Causes of Behavior. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), About Behaviorism (1ª Ed., pp. 10-23). Vintage Books.
Skinner, B. F. (1976c). The Self and Others. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), About Behaviorism (1ª Ed., pp. 184-207). Vintage Books.
Skinner, B. F. (1976d). What is Inside the Skin? Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), About Behaviorism (1ª Ed., pp. 228-240). Vintage Books.
Skinner, B. F. (1978a). The Experimental Analysis of Behavior: A History. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Reflections on Behaviorism and Society (1ª Ed., pp. 113-126). Prentice-Hall.
Skinner, B. F. (1978b). Why I Am Not a Cognitive Psychologist. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Reflections on Behaviorism and Society (1ª Ed., pp. 97-112). Prentice-Hall.
Skinner, B. F. (1978). Can We Profit from Our Discovery of Behavioral Science? Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Reflections on Behaviorism and Society (1ª Ed., pp. 83-96). Prentice-Hall.
Skinner, B. F. (1987). Selection by Consequences. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Upon Further Reflection (1ª Ed., pp. 51-64). Prentice-Hall.
Skinner, B. F. (1987). Can the Experimental Analysis of Behavior Rescue Psychology? Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Upon Further Reflection (1ª Ed., pp. 159-172). Prentice-Hall.
Skinner, B. F. (1987). The Evolution of Behavior. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Upon Further Reflection (1ª Ed., pp. 65-74). Prentice-Hall.
Skinner, B. F. (1987). The Evolution of Verbal Behavior. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Upon Further Reflection (1ª Ed., pp. 75-92). Prentice-Hall.
Skinner, B. F. (1987). Why We Are Not Acting to Save the World. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Upon Further Reflection (1ª Ed., pp. 1-14). Prentice-Hall.
Skinner, B. F. (1988a). Coming to Terms with Private Events [Response to the Comments of the Article “The Operational Analysis of Psychological Terms”]. Em A. C. Catania,& S. Harnad (Orgs.), The Selection of Consequences: The Operant Behaviorism of B. F. Skinner (1ª Ed., pp. 164-217). Cambridge University Press.
Skinner, B. F. (1988b). Contingencies and Rules [Response to the Comments of the Article “An Operant Analysis of Problem Solving”]. Em A. C. Catania,& S. Harnad (Orgs.), The Selection of Consequences: The Operant Behaviorism of B. F. Skinner (1ª Ed., pp. 236-277). Cambridge University Press.
Skinner, B. F. (1988c). Reply to Harnad [Response to “What are the Scope and Limits of Radical Behaviorist Theory”]. Em A. C. Catania,& S. Harnad (Orgs.), The Selection of Consequences: The Operant Behaviorism of B. F. Skinner (1ª Ed., pp. 468-473). Cambridge University Press.
Skinner, B. F. (1988d). Representations and Misrepresentations [Response to the Comments of the Article “Behaviorism at Fifty”]. Em A. C. Catania,& S. Harnad (Orgs.), The Selection of Consequences: The Operant Behaviorism of B. F. Skinner (1ª Ed., pp. 293-381). Cambridge University Press.
Skinner, B. F. (1988e). Some Consequences of Selection [Response to the Comments of the Article “Selection by Consequences”]. Em A. C. Catania,& S. Harnad (Orgs.), The Selection of Consequences: The Operant Behaviorism of B. F. Skinner (1ª Ed., pp. 20-76). Cambridge University Press.
Skinner, B. F. (1989). Whatever Happened to Psychology as the Science of Behavior? Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Recent Issues in the Analysis of Behavior (1ª Ed., pp. 59-71).
Skinner, B. F. (1991a). A System of Behavior. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis (1ª Ed., pp. 3-43). Copley Publishing Group.
Skinner, B. F. (1991b). Conclusion. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis (1ª Ed., pp. 433-444). Copley Publishing Group.
Skinner, B. F. (1991c). Scope and Method. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis (1ª Ed., pp. 44-60). Copley Publishing Group.
Skinner, B. F. (1992). Logical and Scientific Verbal Behavior. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Verbal Behavior (1ª Ed., pp. 418-431). Copley Publishing Group.
Skinner, B. F. (1999). The Concept of the Reflex in the Description of Behavior. Em V. G. Laties, & A. C. Catania (Orgs.), Cumulative Record: Definitive Edition (1ª Ed., pp. 475-503). Copley Publishing Group.
Skinner, B. F. (1999). The Operational Analysis of Psychological Terms. Em V. G. Laties,& A.C. Catania (Orgs.), Cumulative Record: Definitive Edition (1ª Ed., pp. 416-430).Copley Publishing Group.
Skinner, B. F. (1999). Current Trends in Experimental Psychology. Em V. G. Laties,& A. C. Catania (Orgs.), Cumulative Record: Definitive Edition (1ª Ed., pp. 341-359). Copley Publishing Group.
Skinner, B. F. (1999). The Analysis of Behavior. Em V. G. Laties,& A. C. Catania (Orgs.), Cumulative Record: Definitive Edition (1ª Ed., pp. 101-107). Copley Publishing Group.
Skinner, B. F. (1999). Reinforcement Today. Em V. G. Laties, & A. C. Catania (Orgs.), Cumulative Record: Definitive Edition (1ª Ed., pp. 165-175). Copley Publishing Group.
Skinner, B. F. (1999). Can Psychology Be a Science of Mind? Em V. G. Laties, & A. C. Catania (Orgs.), Cumulative Record: Definitive Edition (1ª Ed., pp. 661-673). Copley Publishing Group.
Skinner, B. F. (2002). The Design of a Culture. Em B. F. Skinner (Org.), Beyond Freedom and Dignity (1ª Ed., pp. 145-183). Hackett Publishing Company.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Dante Marino Malavazzi, Nilza Micheletto
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
