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Pitfalls of Behavioral Selectionism

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Perspectives in Ethology

Part of the book series: Perspectives in Ethology ((PEIE,volume 13))

Abstract

Numerous analogies have been offered to relate evolutionary and behavioral phenomena. B. F. Skinner (1981/1988), in particular, has suggested that similar processes of selection operate at the levels of evolution, behavior, and culture. This essay examines Skinner’s proposed analogy between natural selection and operant reinforcement. We argue that the analogy fails to characterize a shared causal structure. Operant reinforcement mimics superficial aspects of natural selection through entirely different mechanisms; hence no detailed understanding of operant behavior can be expected from selectionist notions. Selection analogies with respect to reinforced behavior are generally useless and probably misleading. The failure of Skinner’s selection metaphor reflects on the current relations of some parts of psychology to evolutionary theory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en Comportamiento, Universidad de Guadalajara, 12 de Diciembre 204, Col. Chapalita, CP 45030, Guadalajara—Jalisco, Mexico

    François Tonneau

  2. Faculté de Philosophie Sciences Humaines et Sociales, Université de Picardie—Jules Verne Campus rue Solomon Mahlangu, 80025, Amiens Cédex 1, France

    Michel B. C. Sokolowski

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  1. François Tonneau
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  2. Michel B. C. Sokolowski
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara-Jalisco, Mexico

    François Tonneau

  2. Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

    Nicholas S. Thompson

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Tonneau, F., Sokolowski, M.B.C. (2000). Pitfalls of Behavioral Selectionism. In: Tonneau, F., Thompson, N.S. (eds) Perspectives in Ethology. Perspectives in Ethology, vol 13. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1221-9_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1221-9_6

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5447-5

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