
Ever since Skinner (1945) suggested how so-called “subjective” terms could be brought under the control of private stimuli, behavior analysts have debated the nature and role of private events in a natural science of behavior. In this issue, the debate continues with the target article by Baum and commentaries by five prominent behavioral theoreticians. Specifically, Baum (2011a) argues that it is futile to speculate about private events because, behavior, by its very nature, is extended in time and, thus, we are only tempted to “posit private events … when an activity is viewed in too small a time frame, obscuring what the activity does” (p. 185). In other words, a molar approach to understanding behavior precludes any consideration of private events because such events occur on too small a scale and, thus, are not necessary to understand behavior.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 15 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
