Verbal Behavior

In 1934, at the age of 30, B. F. Skinner found himself at a dinner sitting next to Professor Alfred North Whitehead. Never one to lose an opportunity to promote behaviorism, Skinner expounded its main tenets to the distinguished philosopher. Whitehead acknowledged that science might account for most of human behavior but he would not include verbal behavior. He ended the discussion with a challenge: “Let me see you,” he said, “account for my behaviour as I sit here saying, ‘No black scorpion is falling upon this table.’” The next morning Skinner began this book. It took him over twenty years to complete. The book extends the laboratory-based principles of selection by consequences to account for what people say, write, gesture, and think. Skinner argues that verbal behavior requires a separate analysis because it does not operate on the environment directly, but rather through the behavior of other people in a verbal community. He illustrates his thesis with examples from literature, the arts, and the sciences, as well as from his own verbal behavior and that of his colleagues and children. Perhaps it is because this theoretical work provides a way to approach that most human of human behavior that Skinner often called Verbal Behavior his most important work. In 1934, At The Age Of 30, B. F. Skinner Found Himself At A Dinner Sitting Next To Professor Alfred North Whitehead. Never One To Lose An Opportunity To Promote Behaviorism, Skinner Expounded Its Main Tenets To The Distinguished Philosopher. Whitehead Acknowledged That Science Might Account For Most Of Human Behavior But He Would Not Include Verbal Behavior. He Ended The Discussion With A Challenge: Let Me See You, He Said, Account For My Behavior As I Sit Here Saying, 'no Black Scorpion Is Falling Upon This Table.' The Next Morning Skinner Began This Book. It Took Him Over Twenty Years To Complete. This Book Extends The Laboratory-based Principles Of Selection By Consequences To Account For What People Say, Write, Gesture, And Think. Skinner Argues That Verbal Behavior Requires A Separate Analysis Because It Does Not Operate On The Environment Directly, But Rather Through The Behavior Of Other People In A Verbal Community. He Illustrates His Thesis With Examples From Literature, The Arts, And Sciences, As Well As From His Own Verbal Behavior And That Of His Colleagues And Children. Perhaps It Is Because This Theoretical Work Provides A Way To Approach That Most Human Of Human Behavior That Skinner Ofter Called Verbal Behavior His Most Important Work. Half Title Page 2 Title Page 3 Copyright 4 Dedication 5 Foreword I 6 Foreword II 11 Corrections Made by B. F. Skinner 23 Acknowledgments 27 Preface 28 Contents 30 Part I: A Program 33 1. A Functional Analysis of Verbal Behavior 34 2. General Problems 46 Part II: Controlling Variables 68 3. The Mand 69 4. Verbal Behavior Under the Control of Verbal Stimuli 86 5. The Tact 115 6. Special Conditions Affecting Stimulus Control 182 7. The Audience 207 8. The Verbal Operant as a Unit of Analysis 220 Part III: Multiple Variables 262 9. Multiple Causation 263 10. Supplementary Stimulation 289 11. New Combinations of Fragmentary Responses 330 Part IV: The Manipulation of Verbal Behavior 348 12. The Autoclitic 349 13. Grammar and Syntax as Autoclitic Processes 369 14. Composition and Its Effects 382 Part V: The Production of Verbal Behavior 408 15. Self-Editing 409 16. Special Conditions of Self-Editing 423 17. Self-Strengthening of Verbal Behavior 442 18. Logical and Scientific Verbal Behavior 457 19. Thinking 471 Two Personal Epilogues 492 Appendix: The Verbal Community 500 Notes 510 Index 531 Back Cover 553