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Skinner and the Rise of Behavior Modification and Behavior Therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Francisco Javier Labrador
Francisco Javier Labrador*
Affiliation:
University Complutense of Madrid
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Francisco Javier Labrador, Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento, Campus Somosaguas, 28223, Madrid (Spain). E-mail: flabrador@psi.ucm.es
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Abstract

Skinner is, without a doubt, one of the most predominant figures in the development of Behavior Modification and Behavior Therapy. Skinners' work is essential to the development of Behavior Modification and Behavior Therapy. Beginning with the social need for efficient psychotherapy, and after having generated a solid theoretical body of behavioral laws, Skinner indicated and also developed the appropriate path towards efficient interventions for unadaptive behavior. He developed a new theory regarding abnormal behavior (psychopathology), as well as a procedural model for evaluation (diagnosis) and intervention: “The functional analysis of behavior”. His applications for this kind of work are pioneering and at the same time, he is the agglutinant figure of what we today call “Behavior Modification and/or Therapy”.

It is remarkable that a scientist could change the theories and practices of a discipline as radically as Skinner and his work did. His work, however, still has its limitations. The best way to acknowledge and pay tribute to Skinners' work is to overcome these limitations.

Skinner es sin duda una de las figuras determinates en el desarrollo de la Terapia y Modificación de la Conducta. La obra de Skinner resulta determinante en el desarrollo de la Modificación y Terapia de Conducta. Partiendo de la necesidad social de una psicoterapia eficaz, y después de haber generado un sólido cuerpo teórico de leyes del comportamiento, indica y también desarrolla el camino adecuado para la intervención eficaz sobre las conductas desadaptadas. Desarrolla una nueva formulación sobre las conductas anormales (psicopatología), así como un modelo de procedimiento para la evaluación (diagnóstico) y la intervención: “El análisis funcional de la conducta”. Suyos son también los aplicaciones pioneras de esta forma de proceder y asimismo es la figura aglutinante de esta forma de actuación que hoy denominamos “Modificación y/o Terapia de Conducta”.

Es impensable que un científico pueda cambiar de manera más radical el conocimiento y en las prácticas de una disciplina que lo que ha supuesto la obra de Skinner. No obstante su obra obviamente refleja limitaciones, por lo que el mejor reconocimiento y homenaje a la obra de Skinner será superar estas limitaciones.

Keywords

Skinnerbehavior modificationbehavior therapySkinnerModificación de la conductaterapia de conducta
Type
Complutense University Celebration of B.F. Skinner's Centennial (1904-2004)
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , November 2004 , pp. 178 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

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