PPS72450 - Concepts & Principles

(3 units)

This course examines the historical and conceptual foundations of the science of behavior in behavior analysis founded by B.F. Skinner. You will learn how to explain and modify your behavior in accordance with the philosophical assumptions of behavior analysis such as lawfulness of behavior, selectionism, determinism, empiricism, parsimony, pragmatism, and behavior-environment relations. You will examine the scientific, conceptual, and philosophical underpinnings of applied behavior analysis and explain the discipline’s defining characteristics and dimensions. Additionally, you will provide examples of behavioral concepts such as positive and negative reinforcement, punishment, schedules of reinforcement, unconditioned and conditioned motivating operations, functional relations, contingency-shaped behavior and rule-governed behavior. The distinction between verbal operants including echoics, mands, tacts, and interverbals will be explored.