Now in its ninth edition, this popular introduction tackles the most recent trends in American politics and society through explanation, analyses, and interpretations of government processes adding valuable context for students by considering these procedures and developments from an international perspective. Understanding Behaviorism is a classic textbook that explains the basis of behavior analysis and its application to human problems in a scholarly but accessible manner. Part One. What is Behaviorism? Chapter 1 Behaviorism: Definition and History Historical Background From Philosophy to Science Objective Psychology Comparative Psychology Early Behaviorism Free Will Versus Determinism Definitions Arguments For and Against Free Will Folk Psychology Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Behaviorism as Philosophy of Science Realism versus Pragmatism Realism Pragmatism Radical Behaviorism and Pragmatism Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Public, Private, Natural, and Fictional Mentalism Public and Private Events Natural Events Natural, Mental, and Fictional Objections to Mentalism Category Mistakes Ryle and the Para-Mechanical Hypothesis Rachlin's Molar Behaviorism Private Events Private Behavior Self-Knowledge and Consciousness Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 3 Part Two. A Scientific Model of Behavior Chapter 4 Evolutionary Theory and Reinforcement Evolutionary History Natural Selection Reflexes and Fixed Action Patterns Reinforcers and Punishers Overview of Phylogenetic Influences History of Reinforcement Selection by Consequences Historical Explanations Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Purpose and Reinforcement History and Function Using Historical Explanations Functional Units Three Meanings of Purpose Purpose as Function Purpose as Cause Purpose as Feeling: Self-Reports Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Stimulus Control and Knowledge Stimulus Control Discriminative Stimuli Extended Sequences and Discriminative Stimuli Discrimination Knowledge Procedural Knowledge: Knowing How Declarative Knowledge: Knowing About Self-Knowledge The Behavior of Scientists Observation and Discrimination Scientific Knowledge Pragmatism and Contextualism Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Verbal Behavior and Language What is Verbal Behavior? Communication Verbal Behavior as Operant Behavior Speaker and Listener Examples Verbal Behavior versus Language Functional Units and Stimulus Control Verbal Activities as Functional Units Stimulus Control of Verbal Behavior Common Misunderstandings Meaning Reference theories Meaning as Use Grammar and Syntax Rules as Descriptions Where Are the Rules? Summary Further Reading Chapter 8 Rule-Governed Behavior and Thinking What is Rule-Governed Behavior? Rule-Governed versus Implicitly Shaped Behavior Rules: Orders, Instructions, and Advice Always Two Relations Learning to Follow Rules Shaping Rule-Following Where Are the Rules? Thinking and Problem-Solving Changing Stimuli Precurrent Behavior Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 8 Part Three. Social Issues Chapter 9 Freedom Uses of the Word Free Being Free: Free will Feeling Free: Political and Social Freedom Spiritual Freedom The Challenge of Traditional Thinking Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 9 Chapter 10  Responsibility, Credit, and Blame Responsibility and the Causes Of Behavior Free will and the Visibility of Control Assigning Credit and Blame Compassion and Control Responsibility and the Consequences Of Behavior What is Responsibility? Practical Considerations: The Need for Control Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Relationships, Management, and Government Relationships Mutual Reinforcement Individuals and Organizations Exploitation The Happy Slave Long-Term Consequences Comparative Well-Being Control and Counter-Control Counter-Control Equity Power Democracy Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Values: Religion and Science Questions about Value Moral Relativism Ethical Standards A Scientific Approach to Values Reinforcers and Punishers Feelings Evolutionary Theory and Values Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 12 Chapter 13 The Evolution of Culture Biological Evolution and Culture Replicators and Fitness Societies Definition of Culture Traits for Culture Variation, Transmission, and Selection Variation Transmission Selection Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Design of Culture: Experimenting for Survival Design from Evolution Selective Breeding Evaluation Survival as a Standard Guided Variation The Experimental Society Experimenting Democracy Happiness Walden Two: Skinner's Vision Objections Summary Further Reading Terms Introduced in Chapter 14