Radical Behaviorism

Radical Behaviorism

Assignment Summary

This assignment is designed to help you demonstrate your understanding of radical behaviorism by translating mentalistic explanations into behavior-analytic interpretations and explaining why radical behaviorism emphasizes environmental variables and contingencies of reinforcement rather than inner causes.

By completing this assignment, you will show your ability to think behavior-analytically about both public and private behavior and communicate conceptual foundations clearly in both written and recorded formats.

Start Here

1. Review the Assignment Overview to understand what you must submit for Part I and Part II.
2. Review the Assignment Instructions and follow all formatting and file requirements.
3. Review the rubric and checklist before you submit.

Assignment Overview

This assignment includes two parts:

---

Part I Requirements: Conceptual Foundations (Written Component)

From the list of statements provided in the “Mentalistic Statements vs. Radical Behaviorist Interpretations” chart, select five (5) mentalistic statements (excluding the three completed examples). For each selected statement, you must:

1. Explain why the statement is mentalistic (identify the mentalistic construct and why it is nonfunctional or circular as an explanation).
2. Rewrite the statement from a radical behaviorist perspective by describing likely environmental variables (antecedents, consequences, learning history, and contingencies of reinforcement). You may add contextual details to support your interpretation.

---

Part II Requirements: Video Explanation

Record a brief 2–3 minute video answering the following question:

Explain why radical behaviorism does not appeal to inner or mentalistic causes of behavior but instead to environmental stimuli and contingencies of reinforcement.

Your video must include:

• A brief definition of mentalistic explanations.
• Why radical behaviorism rejects mentalistic causes as explanations.
• Emphasis on functional relations and contingencies of reinforcement.
• At least one example (you may use an example from Part I).
• Be clear, professional, and conceptually accurate.

Recording requirement: The recording should be only you speaking. No PowerPoint or slides are required.

Assignment Instructions

Your response should demonstrate:

• Accurate understanding of course concepts
• Application of behavior-analytic reasoning
• Graduate-level academic writing
• Proper APA (7th edition) formatting

Your work should reflect professional and scholarly standards.

✍️Part I: Writing Instructions

• Length: Approximately 3–4 pages (Including title page and references).
• Format: APA 7th edition (title page, spacing, margins, font)
• Citations: In-text citations for all definitions and conceptual explanations
• References: Complete APA-formatted reference list
• Organization: Use clear headings for Part I and Part II (for Part II, include a brief line indicating what you submitted).
• Clarity: Write in observable, behavior-analytic terms (avoid explaining behavior by “renaming” internal states as causes).
• Acceptable file format: Create Part I of your assignment in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).

---

🎥Part II: Recording Instructions

• Length: 2–3 minutes (not under 1:45 and not over 3:30).
• What to record: A recording of you speaking (you should be visible in the recording) answering the Part II prompt. No PowerPoint or slides are required

Tip: You may add brief contextual details to each scenario to support your functional interpretation (for example, what tends to happen before and after the behavior).

AI Use Disclosure

If you used AI tools in any part of this assignment, you must submit the required form and follow the course AI policy.

• Student AI Declaration Form: Click here to access the AI Use Declaration Form
• AI Policy: Click here to review the Policy on the Ethical Use of AI
• AI Guidelines: Click here to review the Guidelines for Students on the Ethical Use of AI

• Circular explanations: Avoid explaining behavior by restating the mentalistic term in different words (for example, “He hits because he feels angry inside”).
• Private events as causes: Do not treat thoughts or feelings as independent causes. If you reference private events, describe them as behavior shaped by contingencies.
• Missing contingencies: Your rewrite must include environmental variables (antecedents, consequences, reinforcement history), not only labels.
• Overgeneral statements: “It is reinforced” is not enough. Specify what is likely reinforcing (attention, escape, access, automatic reinforcement) and under what conditions.
• Video too short/long: Stay within the required time range and answer the prompt directly.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Circular explanations: Avoid explaining behavior by restating the mentalistic term in different words (for example, “He hits because he feels angry inside”).
• Private events as causes: Do not treat thoughts or feelings as independent causes. If you reference private events, describe them as behavior shaped by contingencies.
• Missing contingencies: Your rewrite must include environmental variables (antecedents, consequences, reinforcement history), not only labels.
• Overgeneral statements: “It is reinforced” is not enough. Specify what is likely reinforcing (attention, escape, access, automatic reinforcement) and under what conditions.
• Video too short/long: Stay within the required time range and answer the prompt directly.

Submission Guidelines

✔️ Pre-Submission Checklist

Before uploading your files, confirm that you have:

• ☐ Met all formatting requirements
• ☐ Reviewed the grading rubric
• ☐ Completed the student checklist
• ☐ Proofread your work
• ☐ Named your files correctly