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SKINNER'S VERBAL BEHAVIOR, CHOMSKY'S REVIEW, AND MENTALISM
Author(s) -
Stemmer Nathan
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of the experimental analysis of behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1938-3711
pISSN - 0022-5002
DOI - 10.1901/jeab.1990.54-307
Subject(s) - syntax , grammar , cognitive science , behaviorism , psychology , linguistics , comparative psychology , cognitive psychology , philosophy , cognition , neuroscience , psychotherapist
Skinner's Verbal Behavior (1957) is a comprehensive treatise that deals with most aspects of verbal behavior. However, its treatment of the learning of grammatical behavior has been challenged repeatedly (e.g., Chomsky, 1959). The present paper will attempt to show that the learning of grammar and syntax can be dealt with adequately within a behavior‐analytic framework. There is no need to adopt mentalist (or cognitivist) positions or to add mentalist elements to behaviorist theories.