Psychopathology according to behaviorism: a radical restatement

Span J Psychol. 2004 Nov;7(2):171-7. doi: 10.1017/s113874160000487x.

Abstract

This article is a radical restatement of the predominant psychopathology, which is characterized by nosological systems and by its approach towards a neurobiological conception of the so-called mental disorders. The "radical" sense of this restatement is that of radical behaviorism itself. As readers will recall, "radical" applied to behaviorism means total (not ignoring anything that interests psychology), pragmatic (referring to the practical sense of knowledge), and it also derives from the Latin word for "root" (and thus implies change beginning at a system's roots or getting to the root of things, in this case, of psychological disorders). Based on this, I introduce the Aristotelian distinction of material and form, which, besides being behaviorist avant la lettre, is used here as a critical instrument to unmask the hoax of psychopathology as it is presented. The implications of this restatement are discussed, some of them already prepared for clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Biography
  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Behaviorism / history*
  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / physiopathology
  • Psychopathology

Personal name as subject

  • B F Skinner