Elementary Principles of Behavior

by Richard W. Malott

B> A solid introduction to the principles of behavior using a clear, interesting, entertaining style with many case studies and everyday examples. This book maintains a high level of intellectual rigor addressing fundamental concepts at the beginning of each chapter with more advanced topics left for one of the two enrichment sections within each chapter. Bite sized research methods are covered throughout the chapters in the intermediate enrichment sections with a complete research methods chapter, Chapter 29, to refer to at any time. The Reinforcer, Reinforcement, Escape, Punishment, Penalty, Extinction and Recovery, Differential Reinforcement and Punishment, Shaping, Unlearned Reinforcers and Aversive Conditions, Special Establishing Operations, Learned Reinforcers and Aversive Conditions, Discrimination, Stimulus Generalization, Concept Training, and Stimulus Fading, Imitation, Avoidance, Punishment by Prevention Ratio Schedules, Time-Dependent Schedules, Concurrent Contingencies, Stimulus-Response Chains and Rate Contingencies, Respondent Conditioning, Analogs to Reinforcement, A Theory of Rule-Governed Behavior, Pay for Performance, Moral and Legal Control, Maintenance Transfer, Research Methods. For behavior analysts, psychologists and social workers, supervisors and managers.

650 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1996

Reviews

[Puja · Rating 2 out of 5]

I studied under the author for years in College... and was part of the review team for this manual. While it was an easy to read introduction into behavioral analysis, it was very much limited in its examples and theories. There is no history involved, and the focus is specifically on definition. Malott speaks completely about response-contingent behavior in a way that applies in only 60 seconds or less with the presence and/or lack of a reinforcer. However many examples (such as repeated personal accounts of dental flossing and diagrams of rats in Skinner boxes with the name 'Rudolph') make this text carry a stupid tone. If you have no interest/knowledge in behavior analysis, but want to gain some... look elsewhere.A good study but very repetitive and only applies to the training of rats, and sometimes autism.

[maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book from college that I reviewed again. This information is among the most valid we can read to understand "why we do the things we do". (That one's for you, Dr. Jones!)