Malone, Jr., John C. (1999).
Operants were never “emitted,” feeling is doing, and learning takes only one trial: A review of B. F. Skinner's Recent Issues in the Analysis of Behavior.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
71, 115-120.
This final collection of
Skinner's papers was intended for the professional, although other readers will find much of
interest. The first five chapters are devoted to what Skinner called “theoretical issues” and
include clear presentations of his positions on “feelings” and on the “self” as an apparent
agent of volition. Skinner skillfully discusses thinking, the origins of cognitive-mediational
theories, and a favorite topic: the similarity of processes occurring in the histories of species
and of individuals. The next four chapters cover what he called “professional issues,”
including the often-misunderstood philosophy known as radical behaviorism as well as the
operant aspects of behavior therapy and attempts to influence educational practices. He
seemed disappointed in the lack of acceptance of programmed learning methods and
pessimistic about the possibility of improving education practices. This pessimism was
evident in the final section, “personal issues,” in which he expressed doubt that the powerful
and self-serving forces of government, business, and religion will ever permit the changes
that could be wrought by the application of behavior analysis to the great problems of
society. Two other chapters in the last section will be useful to historians who are curious
about the influence of logical positivism on Skinner's thinking (apparently there was not
much influence) and to sophisticated readers who are interested in Skinner's retrospective
consideration of his work.
Key words: B. F. Skinner, behavior analysis, radical behaviorism, history of psychology, applied psychology