Critical Psychiatry, Critical Psychology, and the Behaviorism of B. F. Skinner

Abstract

Critical psychiatry suggests that the currently dominant medical model in psychiatry overstates internal disturbance and understates environmental stressors as important causal factors in psychological distress. Critical psychology suggests that when individuals experience problems in a culture, psychology emphasizes individual, rather than cultural, change. This article provides a brief overview of critical psychiatry and critical psychology and outlines how both movements share important epistemological similarities with the writings of B. F. Skinner, the founder of radical behaviorism.

Extending B. F. Skinner's Selection by Consequences to Personality Change, Implicit Theories of Intelligence, Skill Learning, and Language

“…Although many academics may consider Skinner “history” this view may be altered when comparisons show striking similarities between Skinner's writings and topics that are of interest to many psychologists today. For example, Skinnerian behaviorism shares important similarities with positive psychology (Adams, 2012), current psychological research (Goddard, 2012), and critical psychiatry/psychology (Goddard, 2014), suggesting that Skinnerian behaviorism may be reintegrated with mainstream psychology (Overskeid, 2008). Skinner's (1953) writings also anticipated current problems in the gambling and advertising industry (Goddard, 2017) and, perhaps surprisingly, Skinner and Chomsky may have shared worldviews that were more compatible than incompatible (Goddard, 2015).…”

B. F. Skinner's Science and Human Behavior: Some Further Consequences

“…Although many academics may consider Skinner history, this view may be altered when comparisons show striking epistemological similarities between Skinner's writings and topics that are of interest to many psychologists today. For example, Skinnerian behaviorism shares important similarities with positive psychology (Adams, 2012), current empirical research in psychology (Goddard, 2012), and critical psychology (Goddard, 2014), suggesting Skinnerian behaviorism may be reintegrated with mainstream psychology (Overskeid, 2008). Perhaps surprisingly, Skinner and Chomsky may also have shared worldviews that were more compatible than incompatible (Goddard, 2015).…”

“…However, psychiatry and critical psychiatry typically disagree on the underlying inner condition (Skinner's second link). In general, psychiatry hypothesizes that a biological dysfunction likely exists and critical psychiatry hypothesizes that a biological dysfunction likely does not exist (Goddard, 2014). Critical psychiatry also shares Skinner's (1953) concerns that psychiatry's emphasis on hypothetical inner causes may be misplaced and that emotional distress and disordered behavior may arise from environmental stressors rather than internal pathology (Goddard, 2014).…”

Upon Further Reflection—The Affinity of Noam Chomsky and B. F. Skinner

“…Although many academics may consider Skinner “history,” this view may be altered when comparisons show striking epistemological similarities between Skinner's writings and current topics that are of interest to many psychologists. For example, Skinnerian behaviorism shares important similarities with positive psychology (Adams, 2012), current empirical research in psychology (Goddard, 2012), and critical psychiatry/psychology (Goddard, 2014), suggesting that Skinnerian behaviorism may be reintegrated with mainstream psychology (Overskeid, 2008). The present paper joins these efforts by showing that Skinner and Chomsky may also have shared worldviews that were more compatible than incompatible.…”