Understanding Behaviorism, 3rd Edition

Understanding Behaviorism is a classic textbook that explains the basis of behavior analysis and its application to human problems in a scholarly but accessible manner. 

• Now in its third edition, the text has been substantially updated to include the latest developments over the last decade in behaviour analysis, evolutionary theory, and cultural evolution theory
• The only book available that explains behavior analysis and applies it to philosophical and practical problems, written by one of today’s best-known and most highly respected behaviorists
• Explores ancient concepts such as purpose, language, knowledge, and thought, as well as applying behavioural thinking to contemporary social issues like freedom, democracy, and culture
• Part of the new evolutionary perspective for understanding individual behavior in general and culture in particular – culminates with practical approaches to improving the lives of all humanity

Synthesizing the principles of behavior analysis with contemporary understanding of evolutionary selection, Baum's account progresses systematically from basic pragmatic behavior all the way to the practices that constitute human cultural values. The resulting book is a modern equivalent of B.F. Skinner's ground-breaking Science and Human Behavior. Philip N. Hineline, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Temple University, and President of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI)

In clear, lively prose Baum's book gives students as well as laypeople an understanding of the cutting edge of behavioristic thought. In this third edition, Baum embeds behavioral psychology even more firmly than previously in its proper setting that of evolutionary biology. The book is actually an instrument (like a telescope or a microscope) through which the reader may observe human life as it really is, rather than as common sense (that which says the sun goes round the earth) tells us it is. Howard Rachlin, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Stony Brook University

In some quarters in the human sciences the roles of reinforcement and punishment in shaping individual behavior and cultural evolution have been neglected. Understanding Behaviorism explains why this is a serious mistake. Peter J. Richerson, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, University of California Davis

A mainstay in my undergraduate learning course, Understanding Behaviorism is an excellent text covering the core concepts of both the philosophy of behaviorism and the science of behavior analysis. Dr. Baum provides a clear, accessible introduction that anyone interested in behavior analysis or psychology should read. Matthew Bell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of California San Diego

What a thorough and highly intelligible piece of writing! By elucidating the bigger picture and the relation to its parts, this brilliant third edition truly facilitates understanding behaviorism and its relation to evolutionary theory. It will be my go-to-guide for many years of tuition and research to come. Carsta Simon, Doctoral Student, Oslo and Akershus University College, Norway

William M. Baum is Professor Emeritus at the University of New Hampshire and a Research Associate at University of California, Davis. He taught for seven years at Harvard University and for more than twenty years at the University of New Hampshire. He has published over one hundred journal articles. These have presented quantitative laboratory research, theoretical contributions, and philosophical contributions. His research interests include choice, cultural evolution, behavioural processes, and philosophy of behaviour.

Understanding Behaviorism explains the basis of a scientific understanding of behavior and behavior analysis, and the application of a behavioral perspective to human problems, in a scholarly but accessible manner. It begins by exploring whether behavior is free or determined, relating behaviorism to pragmatism, and showing how thoughts, feelings, and other mental events may be treated scientifically. Highly respected behaviorist William Baum then introduces the basic concepts of behavior analysis, and uses them to discuss ancient topics such as purpose, knowledge, language, and thought - as well as contemporary social issues such as freedom, responsibility, government, and culture. This classic text has been substantially updated for its third edition, incorporating new developments that have occurred over the last decade.

Understanding Behaviorism explains the basis of a scientific understanding of behavior and behavior analysis, and the application of a behavioral perspective to human problems, in a scholarly but accessible manner. It begins by exploring whether behavior is free or determined, relating behaviorism to pragmatism, and showing how thoughts, feelings, and other mental events may be treated scientifically. Highly respected behaviorist William Baum then introduces the basic concepts of behavior analysis, and uses them to discuss ancient topics such as purpose, knowledge, language, and thought - as well as contemporary social issues such as freedom, responsibility, government, and culture. This classic text has been substantially updated for its third edition, incorporating new developments that have occurred over the last decade.

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