Science and Human Behavior, dualism, and conceptual modification.

Zuriff, G. E. (2003). Science and Human Behavior, dualism, and conceptual modification. Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 80, 345-352.

Skinner's Science and Human Behavior is in part an attempt to solve psychology's problem with mind-body dualism by revising our everyday mentalistic conceptual scheme. In the case of descriptive mentalism (the use of mentalistic terms to describe behavior), Skinner offers behavioral "translations." In contrast, Skinner rejects explanatory mentalism (the use of mental concepts to explain behavior) and suggests how to replace it with a behaviorist explanatory framework. For experiential mentalism, Skinner presents a theory of verbal behavior that integrates the use of mentalistic language in first-person reports of phenomenal experience into a scientific framework.

Key words: Science and Human Behavior, behaviorism, dualism, mind-body, philosophy, mentalism, explanation, Skinner