March 21, 2016

March 21, 2016

Written by Maximus Peperkamp, M.S. Verbal Engineer

Dear Reader,

Neuringer concludes paper “Humble Behaviorism” by writing that “Humility is difficult when fighting for grant funds, laboratory space, research support, faculty positions, and students.” He literally describes all the usual aversive contingencies which inevitably give rise to Noxious Verbal Behavior (NVB). Such environments could never give rise to Sound Verbal Behavior (SVB) as SVB requires the absence of aversive stimulation. Presumably, under such circumstances, writing a paper about humility is the best anyone can do. The fact however remains that writing about “Humble Behaviorism” is an exercise in utter futility, which doesn’t translate to the real world. Whether they like it or not or are capable or not, behaviorist must speak with others. If they engage in SVB, then and only then, “Humble Behaviorism” will be realized. At that time, however, when we acknowledge and enjoy SVB, nobody will care about “Humble Behaviorism” anymore. It will be a moot point. Behaviorists (or anyone else for that matter) only care about being humble when they realize the enormous price they pay for not being humble. The suffering they endure, by staying in these toxic academic environments, doesn't make them humble. A humble person doesn't try to be humble. Similarly, it is only the unhappy person who is trying to be happy. The bottom line is, things are only going to change unless the environment changes. SVB is not going to magically occur. Lastly, there cannot be, such a thing as “Humble Behaviorism”, there can only be a humble behaviorist. Although fictional papers can be written about “Humble Behaviorism”, as soon as the behaviorist opens his or her mouth, NVB is going to come out as the contingency didn’t change at all.