MALK4000-403 Behavior Analysis and Radical Behaviorism Course description

Behavior analysis rests on two basic assumptions: a natural science of human behavior is possible, and such a science is desirable. Behavior analysis is the science of regularities in the relations between individual behavior and events in the individual’s environment. An important part of behavior analysis is developing a conceptual framework and a scientific methodology that allow the behavior analyst to precisely describe, correctly predict, and experimentally control behavior, given certain types of information about the history of the individual and the species. This methodology is demonstrably useful in promoting planned desired changes in behavior. The course places the behavior analytic approach in a context of history and philosophy of science, and introduces core topics that are relevant for complex human behavior.

Coursework requirements from MALK4000-401 must be approved to participate and submit coursework requirements in MALK4000-403

On successful completion of the course, the student has the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge:

Knowledge

The student can

• discuss arguments pro et con a natural scientific approach to understanding and influencing human behavior, and describe and discuss a scientific position where the goals are description, prediction and Control
• place behavior analysis in its historical context
• describe and discuss how behavior analysis, evolutionary biology and social anthropology relate to each other
• describe how the radical behaviorist position relates to important philosophies of natural science, including positivism, empiricism and contextualism
• describe and discuss selection as an explanatory model at the levels of phylogenesis, ontogenesis and culture
• define the concept of category error, and discuss how this logical fallacy can be problematic in the explanation of behavior
• describe and discuss a functional analysis of verbal behavior
• describe and discuss methodological and radical behaviorism, and the distinctions between them

Teaching and learning methods include lectures, exercises, discussion of literature. The lectures will partly be based on interteaching sequences using readings from the curriculum. Students read selected texts in advance for each day of class, and everyone is expected to participate in class through questions and through joining in discussion. Texts used for interteaching are announced in the digital learning platform of the university.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• 4 individual written assignments, each with maximum 6000 keystrokes

Individual written examination with invigilation, 4 hours. Exam questions are in English. Students may submit their exams in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

None

Grade scale A-F

One internal and one external examiner will assess all exams.