Functional Relations #33 - Student Episode: Mentalism vs Radical Behaviorism
Aug 1, 2025
Zach and Caleb dive into the intriguing clash between radical behaviorism and mentalism. They explore how mentalistic explanations can hinder effective interventions, using frustration as a prime example. The duo emphasizes pragmatic approaches, citing William James on the importance of prediction and control in psychology. They also shed light on radical behaviorism's take on private events and environmental analysis. Listeners are left with a better understanding of behavior through the lens of environmental contingencies rather than inner causes.
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Mentalism Defines Inner Causes
- Mentalism assumes inner causes that directly produce behavior.
- That view separates mental events from observable behavior and invites circular explanations.
Inside Out Illustrates The Homunculus Trap
- Zach uses the movie Inside Out to show homunculi metaphors for mental causes.
- The hosts point out the problem of infinite regress: who controls the little characters inside the head?
Emotional Labels Can Be Circular
- Mentalistic labels (like 'frustrated') often explain behavior circularly.
- Asking "how do we know?" reveals the label frequently restates the observed behavior without identifying environmental causes.
