Recent Issues. Chapter 6: Whatever Happened to Psychology as the Science of Behavior? Quote 13

Post author:B. F. Skinner Foundation
Post published:January 21, 2019
Post category:Skinner's Quote of the Day

“Psychology has much to gain by confining itself to its accessible subject matter and leaving the rest of the story to physiology.” (p. 71)

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SKINNER'S QUOTE OF THE DAY

Verbal Behavior: Extended Edition. Chapter 4: Verbal Behavior under the Control of Verbal Stimuli. Quote 16
Echoic responses are useful and reinforced when they serve as fill-ins. In answer to the question What will happen to the international situation during the next few weeks? the student may begin During the next few weeks, the international situation…, which may be purely echoic but, especially if the situation demands speed, self-reinforcing if it provides a breathing space for the composition of the rest of the sentence. (p. 57)
[…]

“Psychology has much to gain by confining itself to its accessible subject matter and leaving the rest of the story to physiology.” (p. 71)

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