O behaviorismo radical de B. F. Skinner e sua aplicabilidade socialmente relevante

• Ano de defesa: 1985
• Autor(a) principal: Sá, Celso Pereira de
• Orientador(a): Schneider, Eliezer
• Tipo de documento: Tese
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: por
• Link de acesso: http://hdl.handle.net/10438/9637

The objective of this work is to evaluate the capacity of Skinnerian radical behaviorism to find practical aplications which are endowed with effective social and human relevance; this relevance is defined by the possibility of such applications to be impressed by a politically progressive and democratic character. The evaluation is developed through two academic proceedings which are distinct, but interrelated a discursive argumentation based on a proper bibliographical research is complemented by an empiric exploratory field study. The discursive critical analysis of radical behaviorism is firstly carried out on a historical and academic perspective which is mainly and, continuously referred to B. F. Skinner - the individual agent who is basically responsible by the gradual process of constitution of this scientific system. The second part presents a more impersonal discussion of radical behaviorism. The theoretical background of this discussion brings together philosophy of science and human social relations, as well as ethics that is implicated in the practical interventions in such relations. An exploratory study is introduced it consists on a judgement of the potential utility of a popular political education instrument, which was previously elaborated following the basic radical behaviorist principles and their psychosocial extensions. This instrument is directed to adults of both sexes, social-economically underprivileged, and having taken all or most of all eight grades of elementary school. An evaluation of this Cartitha de Contracontolre social is obtained by using semi-structured interviews and a short objective questionnaire, which are applied to fourteen informers. These informers are qualified by their leadership and/or militancy in neighbourhood and favelas residents associations, workers trade unions, religious community centers autonomous assistance agencies, and employees associations in work organizations. The results of their evaluation are, in general, very favorable. The initiative is considered to be extremely serious and responsible, and the contents of the Cartilha are viewed as very compatible with the objectives of these popular, movements, as well as very useful to endow their activities with a greater social efficacy. However, a generalized restriction is showed in what it concerns the possibility of the population to which the Cartilha is directed to understand the text; this indicates the necessity of a reformulation of the text for future projects of carrying on with this trend of research. It is finally concluded that this work is able to contribute; if divulged enough, to the promotion of a greater interest for Skinnerian behaviorism in the academical environment of Rio de Janeiro, as well as to the production of a more efficacious exercise of countercontrol in regard to the current aversive and/or exploratory practices of social control.