Verbal Behavior

First published in 1957, Verbal Behavior is the widely influential work on linguistics and behaviorism by B. F. Skinner, the renowned American psychologist, social philosopher, and author. Considered to be one of the most important psychologists of the 20th century, Skinner was the Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University for nearly twenty years and expanded on his work on the study of human behavior and the use of language over decades. Verbal Behavior was one of his most influential published works and had a profound impact on the study of behavior and human language since it first appeared. Skinner rejected the emphasis on experimental research when studying behavior, especially verbal cues and responses, and instead focused on theory and examples drawn from literature, film, and personal experiences with family, friends, and colleagues. In this ground-breaking work, Skinner applied his theories of verbal cues and responses, and their accompanying behavioral components, to better understand why people say, write, gesture, and think the way that they do. Decades later many of Skinner's theories continue to be tested and discussed by psychologists, behaviorists, linguists, and philosophers. Verbal Behavior endures as a fascinating and thought-provoking examination of verbal language, the most human of human behaviors. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.