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CorporalRook1619
SECTION III: THE INDIVIDUAL AS A WHOLE XV “SELF-CONTROL” (p 227)…
SECTION III: THE INDIVIDUAL AS A WHOLE
XV “SELF-CONTROL” (p 227)
130. What is the theoretical value of experimentally verifying a reliable
functional relation?
131. Skinner asserts but does not explain why a functional analysis has
advantages over inferential statistics. Can you think of why a professional
statistician like Jack Michael would give up teaching statistics and adopt a
science focused on experimentally demonstrating “functional analysis”? (If not
sure of this answer, it is ok to skip it…)
132. Why is the practical value of demonstrating functional relations “even
greater” (than the theoretical value alluded to above)?
133. Before considering the various ways in which social control is exerted over
the behavior of an individual, Skinner suggests that first “we must consider the
possibility that the ___________ may ___________ his (sic) own behavior”.
134. Skinner states “In emphasizing the controlling power of external variables,
we have left the organism itself in a peculiarly helpless position.” (p. 228). Explain
this statement.
135. When we engage in activities said to exemplify instances of self-control
what does Skinner suggest we are doing? ____________________
136. So, in this view, do we need to abandon a behavior analytic conceptual
framework and “throw in the towel” on pursuing a scientific account of behavior?
Explain why or why not.
137. Is the person who appears to engage in a successful array of “self-control”
strategies someone who has “the right stuff” or are those responses to be
accounted for by something other than trait psychology? Explain.
138. Skinner suggests that self-control repertoires might be particularly useful
when a given response has conflicting consequences. (P230)Elaborate on this.
139. Differentiate between the controlling response and the controlled
response. (P 231)
140. Skinner describes nine general techniques of engaging in self-control.
Explain THREE of these techniques and include examples of each.
141. So does Skinner believe that “self-control” has its origins within the
organism or in the history of the organism? Explain.
XVI THINKING (p 242)
142. What distinction does Skinner draw between self-control and “making a
decision”? How are these processes similar?
143. What are supplementary sources of strength and how are they related to
Skinner’s analysis of thinking?
144. Describe some environmental factors that influence the development and
maintenance of decision making behavior.
145. “Recall” is the search for a response that cannot be specified in advance.
How do you go about “recalling” the name of an old acquaintance, or an
important date or the answer to the questions, “What did you have for dinner
yesterday?”?
146. Define a true “problem situation” and also a solution to the problem. Then
give an original example from your own experience.
147. How does Skinner specifically define problem solving? So why is “solving
the problem” (that is, emitting the problem solution response) not what Skinner
means by problem solving?
148. What is the difference between trial and error learning and problem
solving, according to Skinner?
149. Why does Skinner argue that the sudden appearance of a solution to a
problem after a period of not overtly working on a solution, need not imply that
the individual was “working on the problem subconsciously”?
150. Is there an analogy or parallel between the origins of “self-control” and
original thoughts or ideas? Explain.
151. Does it make more sense to to say that man is in better control of the
environment or that the environment has gained more precise control over the
behavior of people? Explain.
152. Why can we not provide a rigorous account of the originality of important
ideas in the history of science? What is our fall back position in accounting for the
history of scientific discovery and technological advancement?
153. While the view that creative thinking may be accounted for within a natural
science framework may be offensive to some, what are some possible
compensatory advantages that may result from such a perspective?
XVII PRIVATE EVENTS IN A NATURAL SCIENCE (p 257)
154. Is the environment of events capable of exerting stimulus control limited to
events outside the organism? Explain.
155. Give an original example of some form of physical stimulation arising from
within the skin.
156. “A private event may be distinguished by its _______________
accessibility, but not, so far as we know, by any special ________________ or
_____________________ .”
NOTE: Read the first full paragraph on page 258 carefully. In it, Skinner distinguishes
between the interests of those interested in practical control exclusively, from those
interested in having a more complete approximate understanding or a more complete
account of human behavior. This requires a willingness to shift quickly and comfortably
between “psychology” and biology without getting hung up about distinctions between
one domain of inquiry and another. This is at the heart of radical behaviorism and the
distinctions made by methodological and interbehavioral forms of behaviorism. Radical
behaviorists regard behavior as a subset of biology.. Other behaviorisms do not accept
that and regard it as insulting to subsume their field under another domain. Those who
wish to focus only on directly observable organism-environment relations are for
practical purposes, committing to methodological behaviorism. This is perfectly fine and
completely practical for solving real world applied problems. However, some (myself
included) would argue that this is only a partial view of what science provides. You will
ultimately need to come to your own conclusion about what is of importance to you.
Good luck!!
157. Explain how the verbal community establishes responses that are under
the control of private stimuli?
158. Describe the respondent conceptualization of conditioned seeing.
159. Describe the operant conceptualization of conditioned seeing.
NOTE: Skinner reviews both traditional and alternative formulations for understanding
private events before he addresses his own behavior analytic perspective. Read these
sections if you want but of the utmost importance is that you read the final full paragraph
on page 282 in that chapter, under the heading “The private made public”. Nearly every
sentence in that paragraph is worth careful attention!!
XVIII THE SELF (p 283)
160. Explain the common, problematic way of conceptualizing the self.
161. How does Skinner attempt to explain the concept of self?
162. Why might self-knowledge be deficient?
Reference
Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and the Behavior of Humans Macmillan, located in New York, New York.
