The Philosophy Supporting Behavior Analysis

Behaviorism

Behaviorism is the "Science of Action, It ignores what’s happening inside the head (thoughts and feelings) and focuses entirely on what can be seen

Methodological behaviorism

the belief that psychology should only study what can be publicly observed

Radical behaviorism

the belief that everything you do is behavior

Mentalism

The philosophy that the mind controls behavior.

Mind

what the Brain does

Empiricism

Knowledge comes from our senses

Determinism

All events and all things have a cause

Parsimony

It is the "less is more" rule for scientists. If you can explain something using one reason, don't use three

Experimentation

the process of changing one thing on purpose to see how it affects something else

Pragmatism

Research should have useful results

Selectionism

behaviors aren't random or driven by "willpower"—they are shaped by what happens after you do them

Dead-man test

If a dead man can do it, it probably isn't behavior

Behavior

"the way your body reacts

Behavior analysis

The study of the principles of behavior

Experimental analysis of behavior

the science of "Why”

Applied behavior analysis

the science of learning and motivation

Professional practice guided by the science of behavior analysis

The Science of Solving Problems.

Repertoire

A set of skills

Error of reification

To call an invented explanation a thing

Medical-model myth

the idea that it’s a mistake to treat "bad behavior" like a "physical disease

Seven Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied, Behavioral, Analytic, Technological, Conceptually systematic, Effective, General