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Mentalism and Radical Behaviorism Dara B. Britton School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Capella University PSY 7708: Basic Foundations in Applied Behavior Analysis Dr. Bryan Blair July 16 th , 20 1

Mentalism and Radical Behaviorism Phrases Mentalistic or behavioristic Explanation (use source here; your texts are fine) If mentalistic, provide an alternative behavioral statement Kayla was very sad at school today. Her teacher stated that she cried while playing with other children at school. Mentalistic “Very sad” is a behavior in the inner dimension that cannot be measured or observed (Cooper et al., 2020, p. 12) . Tears rolled down Kayla's face today while she played with the children at school. Michael fell to the floor every time his teacher placed a worksheet on his desk. Behavioristic The behavior in this phrase “fell to the floor” can be observed and measured (Cooper et al., 2020, p. 16- 17) . N/A Martin calls to make an appointment at his dentist’s office, because he knows needs a root canal. Mentalistic “Knows” is not a behavior that can be observed or measured. Explanatory fiction is used in this phrase (Cooper et al., 2020, p. 12) . Martin scheduled a dental appointment after the dentist told him he needed a root canal. Shawnia ate cake after having a long day to uplift her emotions after her boyfriend broke up with her. Mentalistic “To uplift her emotions” cannot be observed or measured. Explanatory fiction is used in this phrase (Cooper et al., 2020, p. 12) . Shawnia ate cake after her boyfriend broke up with her. Every time the instructor asks Johnny to clean his plate, he walks to the sink, turns the water on, and washes his plate. Behavioristic The behavior in this phrase “walk to the sink, turns the water on, and washes his plate” can be observed and measured (Cooper et al., 2020, p. 16-17) . N/A 2

How is the behavioristic approach different from most other psychology fields? In most psychology fields, a mentalistic approach is taken to explain behaviors. This approach focuses on a mental dimension rather than the environmental factors surrounding such behaviors (Cooper et al., 2020, p. 12). In this approach, a person’s thoughts and feelings cause their behavior, and the hope is that if one's mental state can be changed, their behavior will follow. Radical behaviorism concerns how environmental factors influence human behavior, including private and public events (Cooper et al., 2020, p. 13). A behavioristic approach aims to understand how specific environmental events cause human behavior and how to manipulate the environment to change behavior (Cooper et al., 2020, p. 13). Behaviorists realize that behavior is a function of events in a physical environment (Moore, 2003). How would a mentalistic approach inform one’s practice? A mentalistic approach in one’s practice would aim to explain how one’s inner dimension is a direct cause of their behavior (Cooper et al., 2020, p. 12). Practitioners may approach behavior change by addressing the thoughts and emotions that influence them. Dispositional attributions may be used to explain one’s behavior and predict their future response (Moore, 2003). For instance, if a client has a problem with substance abuse, it may be attributed to an additive personality. In this association, the client's treatment may be to avoid doing any activity for extended periods because they may become addicted. How would a behavior analytic approach inform one’s practice? A behavioristic approach in one’s practice would use observable and measurable data to examine the environmental events contributing to one’s behavior (Cooper et al., 2020, p. 13). A 4

practitioner using this approach would focus on altering the environment to encourage or discourage certain behaviors. For example, a practitioner may consider adding a reward if a child can clean up all their toys. Interventions in this approach would involve objective research and evidence-based data to form a conclusion on the effectiveness of treatment (Cooper et al., 2020, p. 16-17). 5