Commentaries: Making the World a Better Place
Edited by Dwight Harshbarger, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
There are many, many topics about which the science of behavior lacks hard data. Many of these are major social issues: war, poverty, terrorism, crime, public governance, and so forth. We do have research that bears on various aspects of these topics, for instance, information on education and training can contribute to solving the problems of poverty. However, the complexity and magnitude of numerous topics prohibits direct research.
We do not think that this means that these topics should be ignored by behavior analysts. However, what we have to say should be clearly labeled as interpretation and application, using basic concepts and data, but going beyond them. Thus, the contributed items in this column. New ones will appear from time to time, and old ones will be available from our archive. Readers should feel free to contact us with ideas for this column.
Current Column:
The Inclusion of Cultures and Cultures of Inclusion by Charlotte Mandell, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Recent Columns:
On the Need for a Behavioral Analysis of Gambling by Mark R. Dixon and Kimberly Zlomke, Southern Illinois University
Raising Good Kids in Tough Times: Giving for Growing by Roger McIntire
Raising Good Kids in Tough Times: What's the Right Thing to Say? by Roger McIntire
Why Public Schools Don't Change by Michael Maloney
What's Next for America's Public Schools? by Michael Maloney
Power to the Parents by Mickey Keenan
Magical Thinking and How to Correct It by Roger McIntire
Behavioral Effects Following a Radiation Accident in Brazil: Lessons for the Future by Lincoln da Silva Gimenes & Laercia Abreu Vasconcelos
In the Aftermath of Flames, Smoke, Death and Suffering: We Can Choose What We Do by Stuart R. Harder
How Can We Help Children Deal with Sudden and Violent Death? by Karola Dillenburger
Talking to Children about Aggression by Beth Sulzer-Azaroff
Where are the Robots? by Paul Chance
The Killer Stop Sign by Raymond Reed Hardy
The Origins of Good and Evil by Joseph J. Plaud
The Value of Misbehavior by Janet Ellis & Paul Chance
Management Styles in the Classroom by Glenn Latham
Social Constructivism by Max Hocutt
Why Teaching Doesn't Improve by Glenn Latham
Behavior Science Goes to Prison by Janet Ellis
Is Prayer the Answer? by Paul Chance
Could Talk Have Saved Lives in Littleton? by Howard Sloane
Learning to Kill by John A. Nevin
Positive Reinforcement in Diplomacy: How? by Murray Sidman
Combatting Terrorism by Howard Sloane
If you are interested in writing an article for use in Making the World a Better Place,
request a set of author guidelines from the editor, Roger Poppen.
Please do not submit articles prior to reviewing these guidelines.
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