Customer Reviews

Principles of Behavior (6th Edition)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The (Elementary) Principles of Behavior series continues. This is the text I now use when I teach college-level courses in applied behavior analysis, and students are uniform in their praise for the book's engaging style and easily understood examples. The information is solid and does not get lost in jargon (while simultaneously not watering down information). The humor leaps out at you, sometimes unexpectedly and sometimes with the subtlety of a flying sledge-hammer. An important book for the bookshelf of everyone involved in the field of behavior analysis.

Hands Down the best, most eye-opening book I have ever read. Malott cuts all psychological theories down to the basics - and we are presented with his truly scientific version of radical behaviorism. It all makes perfect, basically undebatable, sense; as the reader learns one principle of organsims' behavior after another, with real research (and shockingly effective results) combined with easy to read stories helping to understand newly presented information. Doctor Malott wants to "save the world with behavior analysis," and if this book shows any sign of the field's potential, I think he (we) certainly will.

I have heard about the book for several years, but as a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, I feel like I've read every introductory behaviour analysis book going, and, after a while, they pretty much all say the same thing, and pretty much all have the same limitations. Perhaps a big difference with Dr. Mallot's book is that it has basic as well as advanced or enriched reading sections. These sections take the reader to areas of common behaviour analytic topics that are rarely discussed in even more advanced texts (or if they are discussed, they are not highlighted as being distinctly 'advanced' topics). One of the best examples in the book is Dr. Mallot's inclusion of discussion about the role of punishment in discrimination training. As he points out, discrimination training is always said to have two components: extinction and reinforcement. But what about the role of punishment? He discusses it, and rightly points out that no other text does. This is just one example of the importance of the book and one of the aspects that makes it invaluable to both the neophyte and the experienced analyst, especially those of us who have never conducted basic experimental research. It is also amusing at every turn. bh

You know how soometimes you have to buy a book for class and you think it's a complete waste of money? This isn't one of those books. I used this book for a Behavior class. I actually didn't have to buy it because my instructor had a spare one he let me borrow, but when the class was over and I had to return the book, I went out and bought my own copy. I love the way this book infuses the theory of behavior with examples in real settings. I admit I'm a bit of a psychology geek, but this book excites me. This book = R+

Love this book! It is one of the best written for Behavioral Analysis. Make sure to check out the book's companion website!

This book came in just in time and is in really good condition! Thank you for sending it just on time!

this book single-handedly change my life, being a single mother I constantly look for new ways to inspire and educate my four boys, this book is understandable to even the simplest of women. which i am because i had joey when i was 13 hehee. i would recommend this fantastic find to anyone out there who has trouble with their child rearing and needs to have their own little source of reinforcement. hahahaha.

just read it then youll get it.

I was fortunate enough to take Dr. Malotts Psychology 3600 Concepts of Behavioral Analysis and supplemental rat lab at Western Michigan University in the fall of 2006. The great thing about Western Michigan University is its Psychology Department is the leading center of Behavior Analysis in the world, and if you are considering doing graduate work in Applied Behavior Analysis in the model of radical behaviorism of B.F.Skinner, WMU in Kalamazoo, MI is the place to be. The 6th edition of Principles of Behavior is currently in print and will be available by fall 2007. This text lays out all the principles of Behavior Analysis an undergaduate will need, and probably even a graduate in clear, concise forms, with humor, experience, and superb diagrams designed by the author. I have learned more from this course and text about Psychology and how to apply behavioral psychology to the problems and solutions of man, than any other approach. The rat lab also allows for you to utilize those concepts you learn in the book in your skinner box, greatly adding to your understanding. A must textbook or resource book for anyone interested in pursuing bheavior analysis as a career.

Im not gonna lie. This book its like ur typical collge books. About 90%of the books pages are just scifice cases from the past. There are definations in the book but the defination wont do u any good if u dont understand the true meaning of that word and in order to do that u have to read every case study. Im sooooo happy i took the class face to face becasue taking this class online and using the book with it would be tooooo confusing. So if ur planing to take Behavioral Modification classes and this book is the text u need to have, please take the face to face classes becasue u will be confused if ur on ur own online. Ur teacher/instrutor can better explain the subject then u just learning on ur own. This class is not an easy A or a brezze through class, u really got to know and learn the stuff and the textbook isn't going to make it easy.

The book is really helpful, intesting, and it makes u think about other things. Its a good read if u can understand it. As long as u understand the first 3 chapters then ur good to go though the rest.

Im foraute enough to get a B in class. Good luck college students!!

I used this text for an introductory Psychology course. Overall, it was a decent reference.The examples that are offered in the text are practical and allow for a reasonable understanding of the principles of behavior. At times the book seems too simplistic,and superficial in its tone. But, on the other hand, it will be beneficial to those who are struggling with basic concepts such as reinforcement, punishment, contingency, and schedules of operant conditioning. I think that the concept of shaping was simply glossed over and not explored enough. Additionally, I found the humor that was used in some of the text to be offensive and patronizing at times. Certain parts of the book seem somewhat condescending, but other than that it covers the bases fairly well.