O conceito de punição na obra de B. F. Skinner: uma análise Histórico-conceitual (1930-1990)

Abstract

Two definitions of punishment are more often referred to by behavioral analysts: Skinner's definition and Azrin and Holz’s definition. These definitions represent two theories of punishment (asymmetrical and symmetrical theory). Although the symmetrical position is the most cited, this does not appear to have caused the cessation of the asymmetrical position. Thus, both theories coexist and are debated within Behavior Analysis. In this sense, some studies have examined these positions and, in relation to the asymmetrical positioning, analyze more specifically the position assumed by Skinner. These studies contributed to the understanding of Skinner's position on punishment, but left some gaps to fill: (1) They did not include documents from the entire Skinner's publication period, focusing mostly in 1953; and (2) they did not analyze the concept of punishment in relation to other key concepts and their modifications within Skinner's theory. Thus, the objective of this study was to systematically characterize the concept of punishment in B.F. Skinner's work between 1930 and 1990, emphasizing: (a) the definitions presented by the author throughout his work; and (b) the explanatory mechanisms used by Skinner to deal with punishment. Published and unpublished documents of Skinner between 1930 and 1990 were analyzed. The results, presented in three chapters, showed that there were changes in the terminology, definition and explanation of punishment in the 1930’s and that these changes were due, among other factors, to the development of the concept of reflex reserve. This concept was questioned in the early 1940’s and completely abandoned in the 1950’s. It was argued that the concept was the key to Skinner's formulation of punishment as asymmetrical to reinforcement, and although it was abandoned in the 1950’s, some of its key features survived. It was also observed that, from the 1960’s, there were no major changes in the concept of punishment. These results address the main objectives of this work.