Overview
06a1] Week 6 Assignment 1: Mentalism and Radical Behaviorism
Week 6 Assignment 1: Mentalism and Radical Behaviorism
[u06a1] Week 6 Assignment 1: Mentalism and Radical Behaviorism
Due: Sun Feb 22, 2026 11:59pm2/22/2026
Ungraded, 170 Possible Points
170 Points Possible
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Attempt 1
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Overview
As a future ABA professional, understanding why the field of behavior analysis differs from other psychology fields is important. Behavior analysts use objective and behavioristic statements to describe phenomena they observe. At this point in your studies, it is important to start considering the impact of mentalistic statements in your vocabulary to help you to begin thinking like a behavior analyst.
Instructions
Your instructor will share the Mentalism and Radical Behaviorism Template you will use to complete this assignment.
Complete the following in the provided table:
Column 1: Identify whether the statement is mentalistic or behavioristic for each scenario.
Column 2: Explain the reasoning behind your choices. Some of the scenarios are similar and you may reuse your justification in multiple scenarios—but you must restate the explanation for each scenario and provide in-text citations to back up where those facts came from.
Column 3: Provide a behavioristic explanation as an alternative for each of the mentalistic explanations you identify. You do not need to include an explanation if you label the example as behavioristic.
Answer the following questions below the table. Each answer should be no more than two paragraphs and should expand on the last answer with new ideas. Ensure there are in-text citations to back up where your facts come from.
How does a behavior analytic approach differ from other fields of psychology?
What is the problem with a behavior analyst using a mentalistic approach?
Why is it important for a behavior analyst to use a behavioristic approach and not use a mentalistic approach in their practice?
Refer to the Mentalism and Radical Behaviorism rubric to ensure you understand the grading criteria for this assignment.
Additional Requirements
Your assignment should also meet the following requirements:
Written communication: Should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
Resources: Reference your Cooper et al., (2020) course textbook and other course readings that support your responses.
Length: 2–3 double-spaced pages, in addition to the title page and references page