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
Skinner and the European Tradition Pavlov Freud Lorenz and Piaget | 43 |
Touchstones of Radical Behaviourism Brain Cognition Language and Creativity | 85 |
The Concern for Real Life A Venture Into Utopia | 151 |
References | 225 |
Author Index | 232 |
236 | |
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action activities analysis animal appear approach aspects aversive controls B.F. Skinner basic behaviour therapy behaviourist biological brain Chapter Chomsky Chomsky's cognitive psychology cognitive science cognitivism cognitivist concept concern conditioning consequences context Contingencies of reinforcement contribution countercontrol creative critical culture Cumulative record emphasised environment epistemological especially ethologists ethology eventually evolution evolutionary analogy example experimental fact field freedom and dignity Freud functional functional analysis genetic human behavior Ibidem ideas important individual interaction issue laboratory language learning linguistic Lorenz mental methodological mind Modgil neurobiology objection observed organisation organism paper Pavlov Piaget position problem-solving problems procedures processes production psychoanalysis psycholinguistics psychotherapy radical behaviourism rats reference relation reprinted resorting response Richelle schedules of reinforcement scientific psychology selection simple situation Skinner box Skinner's views social society solve stimulus teaching machines theoretical theory thought traditional variables verbal behaviour Walden