Behavior and Perestroika

Abstract

This paper examines some relationships between the theoretical contributions of Karl Man and B. F. Skinner~~that is, between the natural sciences of the social change (scientific socialism) and of behavior change (behaviorology). I provide an overview of the science of behaviorology, describe its emergence as a scientific revolution within the natural sciences, and then highlight some of its implications' for Marxist theory as well as for the development of the human being and social progress. I briefly compare the behaviorological and Marxist perspectives on language, personality, culture, and communist consciousness.

Strengthening the Case Against the Cognitivist Consensus

“…He avers that to come to grips with the world's problems, all that the behavioral sciences in general have to offer is: "There is something wrong with people who behave that way" (p. 468). From my perspective, there is a superior way to combat the worsening of world conditions, one that incorporates both Skinnerian and Marxist theories: see Ulman's (1991) "Toward a synthesis of Marx and Skinner. "…”

“…Some time ago I attempted to apply Kuhn's theory to the distinction between behaviorology and psychology (Ulman, 1991). According to Kuhn, scientific revolutions are suppose to follow three states: (1) formation of a scientific community that selects a paradigm that appears best suited for "normal" functioning of scientific activity; (2) breakdown of the old paradigm with a crisis ensuing in scientific explanations; and (3) a new paradigm emerges as the scientific community strives to resolve the crisis.…”