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A Note on Skinner and Pavlov's Physiology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Víctor García-Hoz
Víctor García-Hoz*
Affiliation:
Complutense University of Madrid
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Víctor García-Hoz, Departamento de Psicología Básica I, Facultad de Psicología.Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Campus de Somosaguas. 28223 Madrid (Spain). E-mail: vghoz@psi.ucm.es
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Abstract

These short notes describe the way in which Skinner considers and resolves his differences with Pavlov in the question of the relation between psychology and physiology as forms of knowledge. After establishing his viewpoint in the general epistemological issue, Skinner is concerned about linking his study of behavior to the work of Pavlov, who considered it to be of a physiological nature. Skinner contrasts Pavlov's empirical and theoretical work and characterizes the latter in terms of the notion of the “Conceptual Nervous System.”

Se analizan en estas breves notas el modo en que Skinner plantea y resuelve sus diferencias con Pavlov respecto a la relación entre psicología y fisiología como formas de saber. Tras establecer su punto de vista en la cuestión epistemológica general, Skinner se preocupa de vincular su estudio de la conducta con la obra de Pavlov, que éste considera fisiológica por naturaleza. Skinner contrapone el trabajo empírico y el trabajo teórico de Pavlov y caracteriza el último en términos de la noción de “Sistema Nervioso Conceptual”.

Keywords

SkinnerPavlovPsychologyPhysiologySkinnerPavlovPsicologíaFisiología
Type
Complutense University Celebration of B.F. Skinner's Centennial (1904-2004)
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , November 2004 , pp. 153 - 160
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

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