B F SkinnerPsychology Press, 1 kwi 2016 - 256 B.F. Skinner died in August 1990. He had been praised as one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century, but was also attacked by a variety of opponents within and outside the field of psychology. This introduction to his work is first of all a guide to a correct reading of his writings, a reading devoid of the distortions and misinterpretations often conveyed by many commentators, including psychologists. It frames Skinner's contributions with reference to major European traditions in psychological sciences, namely Pavlov, Freud, Lorenz and Piaget. Crucial aspects of Skinner's theory and methodological stands are discussed in the context of contemporary debates: special attention is devoted to the relationship of psychology with biology and the neurosciences, to the cognitivist movement, to the status of language and to the explanation of novelty and creativity in human behaviour.; Finally, Skinner's social and political philosophy is presented with an emphasis on the provocative aspects of an analysis of current social practices which fail to solve most of the urgent problems humankind is confronted with today. Both in science proper and in human affairs at large, Skinner's thought is shown to be not behind, as is often claimed, but ahead of the times, be it in his interactive view of linguistic communication, in his very modern use of the evolutionary analogy to explain the dynamics of behaviour, or in his vision of ecological constraints. |
Spis treści
Sketch for a Portrait | 15 |
A New Microscope for Psychology | 25 |
SKINNER AND THE EUROPEAN TRADITION PAVLOV FREUD | 43 |
Freud in Skinners Writings | 55 |
Skinner and the Ethological Tradition | 65 |
Constructivism and Behaviourism | 75 |
TOUCHSTONES OF RADICAL BEHAVIOURISM BRAIN | 85 |
From Mentalism to Cognitivism | 103 |
Thought Processes and Creativity | 139 |
THE CONCERN FOR REAL LIFE | 151 |
Education | 165 |
Society and Utopia | 179 |
Freedom at last | 199 |
Conclusion | 221 |
232 | |
The Language Issue | 119 |
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Kluczowe wyrazy i wyrażenia
action activities already analysis animal appear applied approach aspects basic behaviour behaviourist biological called Chapter Chomsky cognitive cognitivism completely concept concern conditioning consequences context contingencies contribution course critical culture described discussed early effects environment especially essentially eventually evolution example experience experimental fact field forms freedom functional give given human ideas important individual interest internal issue knowledge laboratory language later learning less limited linguistic look major matter means mental mind natural never NOTES objection observed operant organism origin Piaget position possible practices present problems procedures processes production progress psychology published question reason reference reinforcement relation respect response rules scientific selection simple situation Skinner social society solve sort teaching theory things thought traditional usually various verbal Walden writings