Reflections on Behaviorism and Society. Chapter 7: Can We Profit from Our Discovery of Behavioral Science? Quote 10

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Reflections on Behaviorism and Society. Chapter 7: Can We Profit from Our Discovery of Behavioral Science? Quote 10

Post author:B. F. Skinner Foundation
Post published:November 11, 2019
Post category:Skinner's Quote of the Day

“Confidence is only one of hundreds of terms referring to feelings or states of mind which come to us naturally and conveniently in daily discussions of human behavior but which by their very nature are inimical to a scientific approach.” (p. 89)

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SKINNER'S QUOTE OF THE DAY

Verbal Behavior: Extended Edition. Chapter 6: Special Conditions Affecting Stimulus Control. Quote 7
Reinforcing sounds in the child’s environment provide for the automatic reinforcement of vocal forms. Such sounds need not be verbal; the child is reinforced automatically when he duplicates the sounds of airplanes, streetcars, automobiles, vacuum cleaners, birds, dogs, cats, and so on. But among the sounds which become important are the verbal responses of his parents and others. (p. 164)
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“Confidence is only one of hundreds of terms referring to feelings or states of mind which come to us naturally and conveniently in daily discussions of human behavior but which by their very nature are inimical to a scientific approach.” (p. 89)

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