Science and Human Behavior

From Table of Contents: I - THE POSSIBILITY OF SCIENCE OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR * Can Science Help? * A Science of Behavior * Why Organisms Behave II: The Analysis of Behavior * Reflexes and conditioned reflexes * Operant behavior * Shaping and Maintaining Operant Behavior * Operant Discrimination * The Controlling Environment * Deprivation and Satiation * Emotion * Aversion, Avoidance, Anxiety * Punishment * Function versus Aspect * The Analysis of Complex Cases III - The INDIVIDUAL AS A WHOLE * 'Self-Control' * Thinking * Private Events in a Natural Science * The Self IV - THE BEHAVIOR OF PEOPLE IN GROUPS * Social Behavior * Personal Control * Group Control V - CONTROLLING AGENCIES * Government and Law * Religion * Psychotherapy * Economic Control * Education VI - THE CONTROL OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR * Culture and Control * Designing a Culture * The Problem of Control

I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) so I am probably biased. Now that that is spelled out, I will write this message: "Science and Human Behavior" is an awesome and enlightening read! Behaviorism (Behavior Analysis) is a growing field. As more people get comfortable with the idea of a true science of human behavior, we will make strides in predicting and controlling human behavior. In the future, the controllers or nurturers (parents, teachers, coaches, military leaders, politicians, bosses, etc.) will have an evidenced-based science of human behavior to change people in positive ways. Effective checks can also be developed to control the new science of human behavior as B.F. Skinner recommends. This science and knowledge sure beats the haphazard techniques politicians, bosses, etc. use to influence people to do the right behaviors in order to achieve a common goal. Perhaps some day the nurtured (controlled) and nurturers (controllers) will work together to make the world a better place. People surrender themselves to the controllers with employment, military service, sports team participation and so forth. Why not study those controls scientifically? (Note: For a historical perspective on Skinner (and Behavior Analysis), I would recommend "Beyond the Box: B.F. Skinner's Technology of Behavior from Laboratory to Life, 1950s-1970s".)

1/3 of this book covers basic conditioning as seen in all animals, including humans. Much of this was established experimentally with rats and pigeons but the discussion here is in terms of humans. There are no diagrams or pictures in this section, which can get rather dry.The remaining 2/3 of the book covers topics associated more with humans such as thinking, private events, the self, institutions and culture. Skinner refers to institutions such as the government, religions, psychotherapy, economic groups and education as "controlling agencies". His scientific approach of these agencies overlaps the artistic rendering of addictive systems by the very different William Burroughs in "Naked Lunch", but between the two of them one can get a good sense of how one's actions are conditioned.For millenia, for lack of scientific application, speculative systems have been dominate. The Greeks were masters of such systemization, which culminated in "The Enneads" by Plotinus, an amazingly unified and satisfying work consisting almost exclusively of explanatory fictions. Such comfort systems seem to have a strong hold on people. Much of modern psychology is not an advance on "The Enneads". Look at how much of cognitive psychology is speculative, lacking in any experimental confirmation. There is a great opportunity here for you. At this time, half a century after this book's publication, behaviorism is not well supported. To be sure, there are practicing behaviorists and some excellent progress in the application of behavioral analysis. But behaviorism seems to be heavily resisted, as Skinner himself recognized. This book has excited me. Read it and if it indeed excites you, even as a layperson, see what you can do to apply it and to educate others about it. The opportunity is that there is still a lot to learn about how to apply it in our everyday life. This stuff is too important not to embrace...well, see what you think.

Harsh criticism of Skinner has typically come from arm chair philosophers more concerned with sounding progressive than with helping or understanding people. Science and Human Behavior has contributed and continues to contribute to valuable application and research in Psychology. A standing challenge to any critic would be to find a book that can match Science and Human Behavior's contributions to the application of science for the welfare of humanity.

This is agreat book for anyone who has a good understanding of behavioral psychology. If you do, this book will help explain the concepts employed by psychologists today. It also gives the reader a good feel for the attitudes that prevailed in psychology in the 1950's. If you do not have a strong background in this area, I would suggest reading one of Skinner's later books first.