Behavior analysis, like every other science, has a history of abusive practices and pseudoscience. Azrin & Fox's original (and classic) toilet training article uses overcorrection and required participants to stand for an hour following accidents. Rekkers & Lovaas performed transphobic research that was marked with a mere "statement of concern" - but no full retraction, leaving the careless reader liable to miss the "concern." There are a bevy of behavior analysts who have performed shameful research - none the least of which is Richard Hernstein - the guy behind the Matching Law.
Hernstein is famous for two things: one elegant summary of behavior, and the other a disgusting expression of the worst kind of behavior.
The Matching Law is a simple statement that behavior is allocated by an organism proportionate to the reinforcement produced by the behavior.
Herrnstein once made another simple statement, this time concerning heredity: human intelligence ...
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