What is (not) “complex” about behavior? Radical behaviorism, self, insight and language

This study aims to discuss the relevance of this criticism in light of examples gathered from behavior-analytic literature. By analyzing researches about the formation of “ self ” , “ insight ” and language, we argue that “ complexity ” was imported to behavior-analytic laboratories as well as it flourished in numerous fields of research of radical behaviorism tradition. Additionally, five meanings of “ complexity ” extracted from the consulted literature are discussed. It is concluded that there is no useful meaning to this term and, for that reason, it can be abandoned as a criterion for classifying behaviors. As a consequence, “ complex behavior ” should be viewed only as “ behavior ” and nothing else.

Source: Psicologia USP - December 12, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research