Application of B.F. Skinner’s work
So how does this idea of language or verbal behavior fit into the type of work that is performed today? How is it used in my work and what evidence do I have that supports my choice? There are so many studies and so much evidence along the line of behavior techniques that has been produced using scientific methods. The ideas that B.F. Skinner espoused as they applied to the understanding of verbal behavior were not well fleshed out. However, they did provide the impetus for behaviorists to consider the idea of language, or verbal behavior in the actions of controlling behavior.
In the article (Kangas & Maguire, 2016) it is noted that the work of B.F. Skinner began to include the importance of studying internal private events. There is quite a bit of difficulty in the study of these events as they are examined through the lens of what is known as radical behaviorism. It is also noted that it is critical to expand this type of study in order to truly understand how complicated behavior actions or learned. The main idea in this article directly ties into the type of work that I do. I work in addiction and use evidenced based practices to assist persons with substance use disorders to overcome and manage that disorder. The idea that behaviors can be understood through the study of private events especially through the research in drug discrimination. This has been an effective tool because there is now the ability to measure potency, receptor selectivity, abuse potential and can be used to understand and characterize a large range of subjective effects. It appears that private internal events can be categorized as their own set of behavioral phenomena even though there is great difficulty in studying these events.
There have been thousands of tests that use drug discrimination to study internal verbal events. This is performed by the administration of the drugs so that the behavior is changed over periods where the studied entity is then cued to respond. The drugs can then be changed and the respondent can then discuss the changes of differences that occur when another dug is administered. Ideas such as how closely does this drug resemble the other can then be acquired so that internal events are then part of the study (Kangas & Maguire, 2016).
B.F. Skinner even alluded to the necessary use of verbal events and bridging the gap between behaviorism and the process of thinking in (B.F. Skinner, 2014). The idea that all of human nature could be reviewed including private events would bring science to have the ability to assist in so many areas. Internal private events must be included in this work. It is this are of behaviorism that is something that is most akin to the work that I prefer to do.
The use of modern techniques that are behavioral in nature and sometimes known as third wave behavioral techniques can be used to treat many of the problems that exist today. The idea that language is at the core of many of the problems and can be used in clinical settings comes from theories such as relational framing which stands to understand the extremely complex use of language as it applies to the influence of behavior (Torneke, 2010). This theory helps to inform types of clinical applications that have been devised to assist in behavior change. The application of these types of therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) have been proven to be useful in many settings (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2012).
One notable application of ACT is in the treatment of substance use disorders. In (Harvey, Henricksen, Bimler, & Dickson, 2017) the study was aimed at the cessation of use of alcohol which was used as a tool to manage emotion dysregulation. The implication of its use cn bring about any number of pathological problems that are associated with the use. The efficacy of the use of Act therapy is designed to allow the change of context in internal private events. The use of this intervention was to bring about reduction in use of the substance and greater control of anxiety and stress. The studies outcomes point to improvements in functioning after learning techniques from the theory and hold promise that these techniques can improve overall psychosocial functioning.
In (Hallis, Cameli, Dionne, & Knäuper, 2016) the use of the behavioral therapy known as ACT is shown to have been recognized by the APA having modest research support in many areas of treatment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has given merit to the therapy as one that is empirically supported. A recent analytical study of the therapy has shown it to be effective in treatment of anxiety disorders, substance abuse, depression and somatic health problems.
B.F. Skinner believed that verbal events were necessary in understanding how behaviors are learned. He also brought about thinking along the lines that thoughts are behaviors that are also influenced just as other behaviors are. This was further expanded when relational frame theory (RFT) came about to understand how the actual language in the mind was in fact behavioral and that it could be influenced. RFT is fundamentally the same as the concept as B.F. Skinner with the expanded area of how the learned behavior comes about. The concept of ACT, derived from RFT and used clinically, then begins to take on this challenge and recognize that it is not necessary to change the thoughts themselves, but to change the context from which the thoughts are used and understood. It is this very concept that allow the use of a behavioral theory to change the behavioral interaction between a person and their thoughts. This is accomplished through a change of context (Gross & Fox, 2009; Hallis, Cameli, Dionne, & Knäuper, 2016).
I use this idea of a change of context with one’s own internal events in my own work. The idea is known as psychological flexibility. The modalities that I prefer are primarily based in behaviorism. I am eclectic in that I also use some cognitive behavioral techniques. The ability to assist persons with substance use disorders is an important one. In many cases there are treatment failures. ACT has been shown to be effective for persons with multiple treatment failures (Clarke, Kingston, James, Bolderston, & Remingtonb, 2014). In some cases this can be seen as a treatment resistant client. By introducing other ways in which one can interact with internal private events there are some successes where other modalities have failed. This application is used in many different types of disorders substance use disorder being one of those that is well worth attacking in this manner.
These theories that have grown over the years through countless dissection of B.F. Skinner’s work have been directly influenced by his ideas. Without this earlier work it is quite possible that none of these clinical applications would have come about. The world of psychology is a better place with the scientific knowledge that came from these early ideas. The work that I do is better as a result. The Clients that can learn this type of tool to assist them are better off. Although the direct application of these earlier techniques has not been easy, their newer and enhanced iterations have come about as a formidable process to address the needs of many sufferers.
References for B.F. Skinner
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