B. F. Skinner’s legacy twenty years after (1990-2010): Behavior analysis in Ibero-America

Abstract

Twenty years after his death (August 18th 1990),B. F. Skinner leaves five major living legacies: 1)radical behaviorism; 2) the experimental analysis ofbehavior; 3) applied behavior analysis; 4) the Skinnerbox; 5) the Horcones community (Mexico).Behavior analysis is recognized for its internationalactive presence. Its growth provides a set of opportunitiesfor knowledge and technology transferenceand reminds us the importance of working for thedevelopment of educational and research programsand the arrangement of contingencies which enableits advance. In Ibero-America, behavior analysis, asa Skinnerian legacy, has been an important traditionwithin psychology. In this article we will presenta current synthesis of the central Ibero-Americancontributions to Behavior analysis. The panoramaof Behavior analysis in Ibero-America will beanalyzed according to the following dimensions:1) the most relevant figures; 2) the academic communityrelated to the Behavior Analytic tradition;and 3) the most important research lines. Finally,some of the most general characteristics of Ibero-American Behavior analysis are included.

Keywords

• history of psychology
• B. F. Skinner (1904-1990)
• experimental analysis of behavior
• applied behavior analysis
• behaviorism
• Ibero- America