Bruce Abbott's reference to EAB (which I take to mean Experimental Analysis
of Behavior) plus the obviously continuing war of words being waged
regarding PCT and "conventional psychology" lead me to seek a point of
clarification. Let me start by saying that I do not believe that EAB is at
the current center of conventional psychology. More cognitive views seem
to me to hold sway at the current time. It also seems to me that the
tension between PCT and "conventional psychology" is really a tension
between a PCT (or, if Rick prefers, BPT - "Bill Powers' Theory") and
radical or Skinnerian behaviorism.
This is definitely NOT to say that current cognitive views are any more
consistent with BPT (Bill Powers' Theory) than the radical behaviorists'
view. (Speaking personally, some cognitivists' notion that we are at all
times acting out previously formulated plans is just too much for me to
swallow. Personally, I believe that we act a heck of a lot more often than
we choose and then invent the choice afterward as a way of accounting for
our actions.)
Anyway, the bottom line is that it seems to me that Bill P and Rick M are
often tilting with the behaviorist view (frequently espoused by Bruce
Abbott) but labeling it "conventional psychology" (which I am not sure it is).
Other views? Clarification from anyone is welcome.
ยทยทยท
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Fred Nickols
The Distance Consulting Company
"Assistance at A Distance"
http://home.att.net/~nickols/distance.htm
nickols@worldnet.att.net
(609) 490-0095