Through these pages I was quickly introduced to the complexity of our language and, therefore, immediately wondered about the future for all this talk of artificial intelligence. It may happen one day, though after reading this book, I highly doubt it will be in my lifetime. Through our language, we own an incredible diversity of meaning associated with any single word, let alone an entire sentence; there’s much in the delivery. Since a computer is an inanimate machine, Professor Skinner’s remark that “An account of verbal behavior is not complete until its relation to the rest of the behavior of the organism has been made clear” suggests difficulties, if not impossibilities, ahead for AI. I also had a rhetorical thought: why engage in anything other than transactional speech? Why say anything other than the bare minimum and in the most monosyllabic voice? I suspect because we’re wired to a degree that may defy mechanical reproduction and that is a good thing. We want to receive and deliver zest. Show As with most of my academic readings, I found some difficulty engaging with much of this work. Fortunately, Professor Skinner’s reflections on Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Trollope, Coleridge, Dickens, et al. resuscitated my consciousness in spurts. And then there was Sigmund Freud . . . again. Much of Professor Skinner’s analysis incorporated concepts like mand (think words like command, demand, countermand), tact (think words that make contact with the physical world), the autoclitic (think extensions and conditional language offered by speaker), and echoic behavior. I wonder how Professor Skinner’s framework has matured through the past 65 years, though I confess I doubt I have the energy to investigate that question further. November 25, 2008 A seminal work. Really. Half a century later, the concepts in this book are the bedrock of some of the most empirically-validated approaches to teaching language to children diagnosed with autism. A radically different way to think about how and why we talk -- but also confusing and dry.  5 reviews July 29, 2015 This is a difficult read, which requires full commitment (e.g., re-reading, note-taking). If you're interested in ABA and verbal behavior, however, it's a must read. 49 reviews July 2, 2022 First off, I’m in the midst of becoming a behavior analyst so I have a very positive view of BF Skinner. With that said, this is a very important and interesting, albeit a bit dry, read for my profession. Quite frankly, it both fascinated and confused me. I definitely learned some things and will probably reference it throughout my career. 403 reviews10 followers February 18, 2011 A difficult read that requires commitment to finishing. However, unbeatable in every way. A wonderful theoretical case for how verbal behavior develops and how it is maintained. nonfiction-general science 246 reviews58 followers September 30, 2023 Skinner...I love you man, but your writing style wasn't the best. The next time someone tells you psychology is an easy major, make them read this book! 95 reviews4 followers April 9, 2020 It's difficult to rate a book such as this because I hated it so much but was forced to read it for my graduate program. Skinner himself basically wrote a long-winded dissertation but provided no data to support his findings, which irked me to no end. He did create verbiage still used in many fields of psychology, so while this book is dry and boring, I understand its importance and historical place in the field. 206 reviews1 follower March 31, 2020 I understand how important this book is for the field of behavior analysis, specifically in relation to verbal behavior. I appreciate that aspect. That being said, Skinner talks himself in circles. He really could have used an editor to tell him when he was rambling. school 148 reviews5 followers June 23, 2017 DO YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND HUMANS scientifically? You need to read this book. Aside from the Bible, it is the most amazing book that exists. favorites favorites-on-the 2 reviews November 22, 2012 I only give it three stars because a lot of it went over my head. It is a dense book, but not in a bad way. I want to reread it soon and also re-rate it after I finish it. What is Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior?Verbal Behavior Skinner (1957) defined verbal behavior as behavior that is reinforced through the mediation of a listener. Verbal behavior implies a social and reciprocal relationship between a speaker and listener, where by the speaker gets access to reinforcement through the behavior of the listener. Who wrote a review of Skinner's verbal behavior?Noam Chomsky What did Chomsky say about Skinner's verbal behavior?“In 1959 Noam Chomsky wrote a scathingly negative review of B. F. Skinner's attempt to account for language in behaviorist terms, and he was successful in convincing the scientific community that adult language use cannot be adequately described in terms of sequences of behaviors or responses” (Hoff, 2005, p. 231). Why was Skinner's work verbal behavior slow to be appreciated?Reasons for the slow appreciation of Skinner's work Verbal Behavior: It was met with immediate challenges from the field of linguistics and psycholinguistics, Skinner not responding to Noam Chomsky's negative review, lack of research and data supporting his theory and disinterest and negative reactions from the field ... |
