Julian Leslie – författare

Since the so-called 'cognitive revolution' in psychology in the 1960s, it has often been said that 'behaviourism is dead'. This book demonstrates why this is not the case and how the behavioural approach has continued to flourish.Leslie begins by summarising the behavioural approach to psychology and shows how it differs from other contemporary and cognitive approaches. The basic principles of the discipline are outlined and linked to major areas of interest and importance, such as behavioural neuroscience, resolution of human behavioural problems, and human language and cognition.Behaviour analysis is thus shown to contribute to our developing understanding of the relationship between brain systems and psychological problems, to provide an effective and scientifically based approach to human behavioural problems and to deal with topics central to modern psychology.

This volume unveils the untold personal narratives behind the scientific study of human language and cognition from a behavioral perspective. Moving beyond the formal record of published research, it captures the passion, debates, failures, and moments of discovery that have shaped this transformative field over the past seventy years and beyond. Through these stories, readers gain a deeper understanding of the human experiences that drive the quest to build a natural science of human behavior.Structured as a compelling historical narrative, the book traces the evolution of the field from Skinner’s Verbal Behavior to groundbreaking developments in areas such as rule-governed behavior, stimulus equivalence, relational frame theory, and naming theory. Contributors, ranging from foundational figures to contemporary innovators, share candid accounts of intellectual rebellion, collaboration, mentorship, and the challenges of translating complex science into practice. These narratives highlight the pivotal role of global exchange, persistence, and the lived experiences of scientists in advancing the field.This book is an essential resource for scholars, students, researchers, and practitioners in behavior analysis and psychology, as well as historians and philosophers of science. Its engaging and personal storytelling makes it ideal for graduate and undergraduate courses, while offering invaluable insights for anyone curious about the history of science and the people who shape it.

This volume unveils the untold personal narratives behind the scientific study of human language and cognition from a behavioral perspective. Moving beyond the formal record of published research, it captures the passion, debates, failures, and moments of discovery that have shaped this transformative field over the past seventy years and beyond. Through these stories, readers gain a deeper understanding of the human experiences that drive the quest to build a natural science of human behavior.Structured as a compelling historical narrative, the book traces the evolution of the field from Skinner’s Verbal Behavior to groundbreaking developments in areas such as rule-governed behavior, stimulus equivalence, relational frame theory, and naming theory. Contributors, ranging from foundational figures to contemporary innovators, share candid accounts of intellectual rebellion, collaboration, mentorship, and the challenges of translating complex science into practice. These narratives highlight the pivotal role of global exchange, persistence, and the lived experiences of scientists in advancing the field.This book is an essential resource for scholars, students, researchers, and practitioners in behavior analysis and psychology, as well as historians and philosophers of science. Its engaging and personal storytelling makes it ideal for graduate and undergraduate courses, while offering invaluable insights for anyone curious about the history of science and the people who shape it.