Mentalism, Behavior-Behavior Relations, and a Behavior-Analytic View of the Purposes of Science

Criticism of a behavioral approach to human behavior has been frequent since its inception. Recently, a type of criticism has emerged from knowledgeable critics suggesting that there is a more rapid path to the kinds of scientific knowledge sought by behaviorists (e.g., Keat, 1972; Wessells, 1981, 1982). Even individuals who formerly have been sympathetic to a behavioranalytic position have embraced this line of criticism. For example, Killeen has suggested that we need to “restore the excitement” in our field by admitting mentalism (Killeen, 1984).