Science And Human Behavior

The psychology classic—a detailed study of scientific theories of human nature and the possible ways in which human behavior can be predicted and controlled—from one of the most influential behaviorists of the twentieth century and the author of Walden Two. “This is an important book, exceptionally well written, and logically consistent with the basic premise of the unitary nature of science. Many students of society and culture would take violent issue with most of the things that Skinner has to say, but even those who disagree most will find this a stimulating book.” —Samuel M. Strong, The American Journal of Sociology “This is a remarkable book—remarkable in that it presents a strong, consistent, and all but exhaustive case for a natural science of human behavior…It ought to be…valuable for those whose preferences lie with, as well as those whose preferences stand against, a behavioristic approach to human activity.” —Harry Prosch, Ethics

Originally published: [New York: Macmillan, 1953].

In this volume, Longino enters into the complexities of human behavioural research, a domain still dominated by the age-old debate of 'nature versus nurture'. Longino focuses on how scientists study it, specifically sexual behaviour and aggression, and asks what can be known about human behaviour through empirical investigation.

A reprint of the 1976 Macmillan edition. This fictional outline of a modern utopia has been a center of controversy ever since its publication in 1948. Set in the United States, it pictures a society in which human problems are solved by a scientific technology of human conduct.

Why do human beings behave the way they do? What governs how they act out their daily lives? It is not difficult to provide the traditional argument that it’s largely a matter of the culture in which we live, a product of the influences of family, peers, teachers, religious leaders, the movies we see, the books we read, and so forth. Such behavior often contradicts the independent nature of the human spirit, demanding a certain compromise—we depend on others for our needs, and to obtain these, we must behave accordingly. Evidence grows, however, that, in addition, much of our behavior has its roots in biological processes. Such information indicates that, whether we like to accept it or not, our conduct is often governed by biochemical agents within in the brain, an expression of our animalistic ancestral past, governed by our genetic inheritance, and all beyond the level of our conscious decision-making. This book addresses a series of such behaviors—love, jealousy, travel, suicide, etc.—and examines new-found perspectives that speak to a biological component in explaining just why we behave as we do. Certainly, such scientific insights are limited and currently provide only a narrow insight into human behavior. However, this information clearly forecasts the coming of a greater appreciation that, as members of the animal kingdom, we remain biological beings as well as members of a cooperative society.

A unique approach to human behavior that integrates and interprets the latest research from cell tosociety Incorporating principles and findings from molecular biology,neuroscience, and psychological and sociocultural sciences, HumanBehavior employs a decidedly integrative biosocial,multiple-levels-of-influence approach. This approach allowsstudents to appreciate the transactional forces shaping life courseopportunities and challenges among diverse populations in theUnited States and around the world. Human Behavior includes case studies, Spotlight topics, andExpert's Corner features that augment the theme of each chapter.This book is rooted in the principles of empirical science and theevidence-based paradigm, with coverage of: Genes and behavior Stress and adaptation Executive functions Temperament Personality and the social work profession Social exchange and cooperation Social networks and psychosocial relations Technology The physical environment Institutions Belief systems and ideology Unique in its orientation, Human Behavior proposes a newintegrative perspective representing a leap forward in theadvancement of human behavior for the helping professions. "This book is like no other HBSE textbook that I have used in myteaching career. Traditional HBSE content is included within thechapters, and the authors do an excellent job of explaining complexperspectives on human development from the genome to the brain totemperament and risks in the environment. The book challengesfaculty and students to look at 21st-century HBSE." —Carmen Ortiz Hendricks, DSW, ACSW, Dorothy and David I.Schachne Dean, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, YeshivaUniversity "This book represents a changing of the guard and a new era ofthinking. Vaughn, DeLisi, and Matto have essentially replaced theso-called classic texts with their comprehensive and integrativereview of the most current and relevant theory and research that isessential in understanding the complexities of human behavior.Educators will be hard pressed to find another text that willengage, challenge, and excite students in the way this bookdoes." —Brian Perron, PhD, Associate Professor, School of SocialWork, University of Michigan

Actions have consequences--and the ability to learn from them revolutionized life on earth. While it's easy enough to see that consequences are important (where would we be without positive reinforcement?), few have heard there's a science of consequences, with principles that affect us every day. Despite their variety, consequences appear to follow a common set of scientific principles and share some similar effects in the brain--such as the "pleasure centers." Nature and nurture always work together, and scientists have demonstrated that learning from consequences predictably activates genes and restructures the brain. Applications are everywhere--at home, at work, and at school, and that's just for starters. Individually and societally, for example, self-control pits short-term against long-term consequences. Ten years in the making, this award-winning book tells a tale ranging from genetics to neurotransmitters, from emotion to language, from parenting to politics, taking an inclusive interdisciplinary approach to show how something so deceptively simple can help make sense of so much.