SHB Week 4: ABA 6100: Chapter 3 and
Skinner Exam Questions & Answers
1. Why are mentalistic explanations of behavior so appealing? - ANSWERSIt's what we are
familiar with: part of our learning history within our verbal community. No uncomfortable
adjustment to [change] the way we have been taught. "Easier"
2. What is the appropriate causal model for behavior? Why? - ANSWERShistorical, not
mechanical. Deadman's test... Behavior is not dictated by physics but rather through [learning]
history. There is a "reason" for a behavior... we are not machines.
3. Describe the distinction between molecular and molar perspectives in explaining behavior? -
ANSWERSMolecular: specific to surroundings: environment. Looking at a specific event. (i.e.
DTT: a specific question, that is a molecular occurrence).
Molar: is our histories [learned]
4. What is mentalism? How does it relate to the mind-body problem? - ANSWERSM: Causes of
behavior not in the physical world but in a mental universe.
M-B-P: How can non-physical events cause behaviors? Mentalists argue that beliefs can be the
causal origin (despite lack of evidence).
5. Explain why mentalistic explanations of behavior do not really explain anything? -
ANSWERSMentalistic explanations are based on unfounded theories that have no evidence to
support them. They argue that evidence can be found eventually.
, 6. Describe Skinner's three types of inner causes. - ANSWERSMaking up mentalistic phenomena
to explain behavior. Inner causes of behavior...
Neural: "Brain is tired/nerves on edge"
Psychic: ideas, thoughts, impluses, and wishes. Freud's ego, superego, id.
Conceptual: intelligence, instincts, abilities, habits, and temporary inner circumstances
7. Distinguish between public and private events. Why is the distinction not really meaningful
for the study of behavior? - ANSWERSPrivate events "inside" vs Public events "observable."
Public events are more accessible. They are both behaviors that occur, just public events are
observable by others.
8. Defend the view that thinking is behavior (i.e., why is it useful to consider thinking as
behavior?) - ANSWERSThinking is a prototypical private event. It is automatically reinforcing...
Has been reinforced in the past and continues to occur
9. Explain whether thinking should be considered a cause of behavior and why. - ANSWERSIt is
not causal. The behaviors occur from our learning history, and although thoughts may be
present, the history determines our response
10. Why should feelings be viewed as real, though private events? - ANSWERSFeelings are how
we tact physical sensations.
11. Describe three reasons our everyday references to feeling can be misleading, and why it is a
problem to view feelings as causes of our behavior - ANSWERS1. Not wired to be able to detect
much of what's going on inside our skin
2. Long learning history with our verbal community to talk about our emotional life
3. Same learning history overlays specific physical sensations with countless experiences that
individualize our emotional reactions to environmental events..
Problem: learning history must play a role, and emotion is a consequence of the environment.
Not measureable
Skinner Exam Questions & Answers
1. Why are mentalistic explanations of behavior so appealing? - ANSWERSIt's what we are
familiar with: part of our learning history within our verbal community. No uncomfortable
adjustment to [change] the way we have been taught. "Easier"
2. What is the appropriate causal model for behavior? Why? - ANSWERShistorical, not
mechanical. Deadman's test... Behavior is not dictated by physics but rather through [learning]
history. There is a "reason" for a behavior... we are not machines.
3. Describe the distinction between molecular and molar perspectives in explaining behavior? -
ANSWERSMolecular: specific to surroundings: environment. Looking at a specific event. (i.e.
DTT: a specific question, that is a molecular occurrence).
Molar: is our histories [learned]
4. What is mentalism? How does it relate to the mind-body problem? - ANSWERSM: Causes of
behavior not in the physical world but in a mental universe.
M-B-P: How can non-physical events cause behaviors? Mentalists argue that beliefs can be the
causal origin (despite lack of evidence).
5. Explain why mentalistic explanations of behavior do not really explain anything? -
ANSWERSMentalistic explanations are based on unfounded theories that have no evidence to
support them. They argue that evidence can be found eventually.
, 6. Describe Skinner's three types of inner causes. - ANSWERSMaking up mentalistic phenomena
to explain behavior. Inner causes of behavior...
Neural: "Brain is tired/nerves on edge"
Psychic: ideas, thoughts, impluses, and wishes. Freud's ego, superego, id.
Conceptual: intelligence, instincts, abilities, habits, and temporary inner circumstances
7. Distinguish between public and private events. Why is the distinction not really meaningful
for the study of behavior? - ANSWERSPrivate events "inside" vs Public events "observable."
Public events are more accessible. They are both behaviors that occur, just public events are
observable by others.
8. Defend the view that thinking is behavior (i.e., why is it useful to consider thinking as
behavior?) - ANSWERSThinking is a prototypical private event. It is automatically reinforcing...
Has been reinforced in the past and continues to occur
9. Explain whether thinking should be considered a cause of behavior and why. - ANSWERSIt is
not causal. The behaviors occur from our learning history, and although thoughts may be
present, the history determines our response
10. Why should feelings be viewed as real, though private events? - ANSWERSFeelings are how
we tact physical sensations.
11. Describe three reasons our everyday references to feeling can be misleading, and why it is a
problem to view feelings as causes of our behavior - ANSWERS1. Not wired to be able to detect
much of what's going on inside our skin
2. Long learning history with our verbal community to talk about our emotional life
3. Same learning history overlays specific physical sensations with countless experiences that
individualize our emotional reactions to environmental events..
Problem: learning history must play a role, and emotion is a consequence of the environment.
Not measureable
