Dialogues on Verbal Behavior The Evolution of Verbal Behavior. Part 1.
Dec 3, 2025
In this insightful discussion, David C. Palmer, a behavior analyst and expert in Skinnerian analysis, dives into the evolution of verbal behavior and selectionism. He explores how Darwin's selectionism offers an understanding of order without supernatural design. Palmer illuminates the role of reinforcement in shaping behavior and connects cultural practices to survival strategies. Through examples like hygiene and weaponry, he reveals how cultural traits are selected over generations, highlighting the blurred lines of cultural selection in our interconnected world.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Selectionism Replaces Supernatural Explanation
- Selectionism explains apparent order without invoking supernatural design.
- Blind variation plus selection produces stable outcomes across many domains.
Darwin's Three Pillars Of Evolution
- Natural selection requires blind variation, differential survival, and heritability.
- Darwin unified many observations into a powerful, parsimonious theory.
Tick Tale Illustrates Intense Competition
- Palmer uses the tick reproduction example to show why not all offspring survive.
- Rapid reproductive rates create intense competition, forcing selection to act.
