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26

COMMENTS AND QUEIUES

The Psychological Record, 1969, 19. 645-648.

27

O ~ I l \ I N T S AND QUERIES:

THE

B SIS

FALLACY IN PSYCHOLOGY

jP / 't

THE BIOLOGICAL BASIS

OF AHND

OR CONSCIOUSNESS r ;

. : r f . 1 i ~ j r p I r Q p a b l e

Jg rm oLthc

basis

tenet stems from the bel ief

t h ~ t L

he data

of

psychology a r ~ _ p s ) ' c h l c e i J i p h e n o m e n a

or experiences which,.:'7(

C ' ~ l J 1 0 ( ~ ~ ~ t . in t he ir own right, _ b ~ L Q l l y _ by sufferance

of

other kinds ; ; - . . I . : ~ :

of en ti ti es which sus ta in them. It is r ep resent ed in the l iterature of - . ' . ~ - ~ -,

psychologyvy'such 'familiar expressions as the brain

(or

nervous sys- ., . 0:.-

t cm) is the organ of mind

and the

physical (o r

neural)

dimensions of

:. :

consciousness. The

latter

expression symbolizes

the

notion

that

some ; : , . ~ . - : .

aspects of

the

psychic elements called sensations

are

associated with ;

actual

and

putative functioning of

the

nervous system.

Is it

not

clear

that

the mentalistic version of the

basis

doctrine exists

only-6yYrifueoftlie

animism

tliat stilloo]orsthe-tlltiildng

of psyeholo

g ~ ~ l g

Cannot

p s r ~ l i O l ~ & c a l ~ ~ i . - - l i k e ~ ~ . i ~ k ~ 1 _ I > ~ r c ~ i v i n g , remember

il g.

feeling,

and

so

on

be

describeaexclusively

in naturalistic terms?

UriJesSffiey'cnn-,-thcre is'no-sCience of psychology, for

theessentlal

thing

One of

the

most deeply rooted fallacies in

the

psychological domain

is

the

widespread tenet

t h ~ _ s u b j ~ ~ t

matterof

psychology

requires _

the

s p l . q ~ e>J

a

I ? j o I Q g ~ a : 1

Jasis for its existence

and

operation. This

basis

doctrine

is

a cul tural insti tu tion which

has-taken

on various complex

ions with changes in psychological circumstances.

We

shall consider

two

of

its aspects , an ear lier essential ly mentali st ic one, and a later

behavioristic version. These are closely interrelated and currently viable,

III

all of its guises, however , t ~ ~ ~ ~ t r i n e constitutes a perverse

' 1 ~ _ l l l i s . l ~ a d i D g _ d 9 g m a , the i ~ . e R l ' l ~ s s of

\vhicll

is glaring: To-examine

it critically soon prompts a complete rejection with a consequent im

provement in

the

understanding and description of psychological events.

~

~ ~ . l } P P 9 : s ~ J i o n

that

-

one

sort ..

{

d ~ t . ~ n L r . e q t l j r . t : ~ a

J 9 m c J : ~ 9 L . i ~

aUQtllet: _ ~ . u g g e s s t ~ a . t

tI.le

. b a s i S . Q Q . l ; q ~ ~ ~ , . ~ ~ ~ c } ~ t v . a t i v ~ ~ J l f ~ : t : l h met

Jilisical-phantasies

.as

I ~ O I ~ ~ o g ( } J . , ~ i t y

_o/..pJum.ome.na

symbollZeo

'by

the

expressions unity

or

hierarchy of the sciences. However,

our

in

c rest is in a speci al i ns ti tu ti on be longing to the localized domain of

psychology. ~ l i s t o t i c a l l ~ dates from

t h e . p ~ r i o c : j . . . Q { m t ~ a ] g ; ; t J i o n _ t h a t . t h e

s o ~ 1 or IJ.lind cannot.be ~ ~ . ' ted

s ~ p . a . ~ ~ t e l y

f r ~ I J 1 _ . t he body_which sus

tains t..Latertlie biological supports for t ranscendental ent it ies as

sumed an autonomy of their own and influenced writers to regard them

as caryatids holding

up

either psychical or behavioral superstructures.

'Vc consider the basts

dogma

briefly as

it

operates under mentalistic

and behavioristic auspices.

OBSERVER

the

boundaries of occurring evenq

~ I ~ a . I y . _ t h ~

fallacy of reducing

on f a c e t ( ) f d u a l i s L l < J b ~ L o l ~ r __ h e L ~ _ t t

are fabulous

constructions.

2. . . E v i d ~ t J Q Q L

i s J ~ e f ac t t hat

reductionists

are

influenced.

by

an undue glorification of their 0 ~ 1 l _

type

oJ work. We a re not surprised

. vlientnose-\vho-specialize in elect rically recording organic changes

(EKC's, CSR's,

EEC's)

look upon electrical

and

physiological

data

as

the ultimate realities of psychological behavior. They,

then,

advocate

the reduction of emotions (feel ings) to energy mobilization, while the

great

mass of adustmental behavior including thinking, rmisoning,

perceiving, learning. speaking, remembering, composing, p a i n t i n g ~ ?anc

ing a re converted to such physiological states as hormonal, nutrttional,

temperature, and respiratory conditions. , lLmay__also _ b e _ ~ i d of such

theorists that they

are

frequently. , ? , : e r i l } l ~ s ~ e 4 J ~ Y _ I h Y 5 i c a l a , n d cherni

-ail a ~ ~ r a t u s - ilild-

50-

i _ l . c l J ~ . J ~ ~ v a r d __ t e c l . 1 . n ~ ~ g i c a l

e ~ ( ) ~ ~ ~ ~ c y

rather

than to the elucidation of confronted e v ~ n t s .

3.

There a re

good reasons for admir ing physics, for its achieve

ments are outstanding

and it

has

the great

advantage of profiting directly

and

immediat ely from advances in technology. Aside from its con

quests in its own domain i t supplies instruments for many other sciences

including psychology. And

y e ~ ~ . ~ ~ m J ) _ t p h y s i ~ s

to sovereignt>:

o y ~ r _

psvchology or any

other

science cannot

be

sustained. The behavior of

dYnamos, catboae1Ubes, moving particles, and so on is

c e r t a ~ n l y

im-

I

portant, interesting, and useful,

bu t a re not

the same values attributable

. to the behavior of human and o th er organisms? M o . r . g ~ y ' ~ r ) as _an . _ ~ ~ ~

vanced modern . c J i ~ J . E 1 . i 1 e

n p j l y ~ ~ ~ .

does not lack d.eficiencies. ~ h ~ r e

are manv difficulties

of

observation and explanation. Uncertainties

abound

in

physics, ~ y - ~ c i s l ' - s __r.aQ].p mJ ..

~ h e ~

we .consider the

doctrines of such wrlte .5.

,as J ~ U ,

llobr, ~ < d l t ~ , : g ~ ~ n , _

B r ~ d g m a n , and

--many others.

Here

looms up a great paradox, psychologists look for

amo deIOf

science in physics, whi le physicists

seek

a rock of

a ~ e s

in the transcendentalism of spiritist ic sensations, and the solipsism

of

the

individual psyche.

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28

COMMENTS AND QUERIES

I

,

O ~ I M N T S AND QUERIES

29

BASIS

VEnSUS

PIUOR

EVOLUTION

Psychological events nrc essential ly developmental ,

they

originate

and mature in definite cvolutional ways. Every ad;ustmental interaction

follows embryological interactions

and depend

upon the attainment

of a

particular stage

of organ ismic ma tu ri ty . Unt il a

ccrtain stage

of

mentioned. 9 - 1 - . t l } ~ _ d ~ l i ~ t e l J ~ psychological level there

is

evident a more

elaborate interaction of

the

organism with a complex spectrum of ob

jects

and

conditiOns' so

that theresponses

cannot

be

described as simp

l y - i l l o v e l n e n t s ; s c c r e t ~ o n s . conductions,

and

so on. The biological

com

p o n e n t s - ' o r a ~ p s y c h o l o g i c a l response comprise a specific adjustmcntal

pattern displayed

by the

the total

structure

of

the

organism as it Inter-

/

acts with s timulus objects , Most

of thc

human

organism's b ehavi or is \

conditioned mainly by the characterist ics or propert ies of stimulus

ob- (

jccts. ~ e _ . m l y ..

thcn

Iook upon .thc behavior of the organism as rela- \\

lively

independent

of i ts t issues and organs. This situation is excellently

illustrated by

the '

enormous var ia ti ons of speech behav io r per fo rmed ':'

by organisms equipped with similar biological tissues

and

organs. J t,

/

all complex human behavior it

is the

cultural rather than

the

biolo- r .

gicarfeaturestllat assume

the domiminf

role. Certainly to make' th e

an- I } J . ~ ~ ;

alomf-ana-pnysiology

of organ isms int o support s for psycho logical

( ' l ~

behavior is a f lagrant vivisection of events and a t raduct ion

of

obser- : / ~

vation and description. To regard biological componcnts of behavior l .' '

as bases turns

ou t

to be onlyanarllitrary

usage-

oraword. ' ,'- rL 11.

~ U n d e r l y i n g

this

fa.lsifi.

ca.

lion

o r d ~ e r i p t i ; ; -

is

- t h ~ . ~ . e r r o n e o .

us

noti.on

~ f cause.... ~ _ ~ s u , I e d h: J) _ 3 1 . determining creating p q ~ e r that - ..

p ~ ( ) ( u ~ ~ ~ _ ~ _ m c t ~ ~ ~

other

than i tsel f, so

hat

some

psychic process \

?r:::

i

anteuates _ a ~ ( t ongmares-some type of behavior or vice versa. When the '-

biological is assumed to bring about the .mental there is the added no-

tion of a biological

guarantee

for some unobservable apparition. In gen-

eral, c

determinative

'notion

of 'cause

contrasts

Y , t l . t ~ t l ~ _ Y . i ~ l y j p a t

~ l . ~ P _ Y _ ~ _ ~ , . , ~ ~ r _ l i e . ~ . . ~ ~ : 2 C i g i i i i b . ~ t : . Q l t a j , Q E s . . . L Q l : , ~ ~

..

which c o n b i 6 u t f t . 9 . . . . . ~ ~ . J . l p p e i i i n g

of an even t. The flame of a match in

no wise ~ e ~ ~ r ~ i t d . s .dr Ir:afes- :-i'ii--explOSi1nbut o n ~ y completes the

syncrasy 0 e m IVI ua actors necessary or a

certain event

to

o c c u r , , ; r . ~ , :

including the presence and flammability of the exploding materials. ,In_. . ., ,;.

t ~ l i s . ~ e n s e w look _ ~ l ? o n

the

anatomical and physiological factors ';

~ _ h J ~ I s i ~ l c i n & .

talking, and fccling--ns-'parfiCij;i:'lrifs in the adjust- , / . ; / ~ I

m e l l t a a c ~ - ..

_ - - _ . -- _

... -- . ' -' -' --_. . '. ..

Ii

C r : e a t i ' y ~ c a u s a l i nt erpr et at ions mask the f ac t that psychological c

events

are

field events and invariably involve interactions

with

stimulus r:

I

ob jects as wel l as numerous

additional

components.

Thus the

response

.:>

p ~ ~ ~ e of an in te ra ct io n

is

misin,te ,prett:cl_as r _ ~ u i r I ~ g ~ ~ j ~ o ~ ~ e ~ '

r J

POWC _ or c a l i s a ~ L t ? . i - r ~ s i d e n t 1 r i -the organism. Since ilie--mental aspect

M is intangible and invisible tlie-Dialogical-factors are

presumed

to be the

1

detcrmining or at least the sustaining factors.

about

a science is

that it

investigates some confrontable

happeni?g.

Fortunately there

is no difficulty in specifying

the

nature

and

o p e r . ~ t i o n

of psychological events. The immediate

~ a t a

of p s } ' c 1 ~ o l o g y .are obvious

Iy the behavior or adjus tments of o r g a l 1 ~ s m s to ~ p e c l f i ~ objects, eve?ts,

or condi tions exist ing in

their

surroundings, or

10 t he ir own

orgamza

tion and

a c t i ~ n ,

howsoever

such data arc subsequently

interpr:ted.

,To

'

. r ~ I L f r . 9 ) l L p s y . c b k

i n t e r p r ~ t a i o ~ ~ ~ ~

t o _ ~ ~ < ? i d

t ~ _ I c e ~ _ ( o r

b I o l Q g ~ c : : a .

bases

, ~ - - - ' THE BIOLOGICAL BASISOF BEHAVIOR

Insofar as

the

behavior version of the basis tenet r:sts on the p o ~

tulare that psychological events require nonps}'chologlcal s u , p p o r t ~ It

su rely is on ly a varia nt of

the

mentalistic version, an ?

hence s u b ~ e c t

to t he same objections. On the o ther hand, p S ~ ~ l O l o g l S t S who l 1 ~ l e n t O n

ally ignore:. , ~ r _ reiecJ_t_he__mental and s i r ~ p W . regard p ~ y c h o l o , g l c a l be

havior'as

inevitably. ( l ~ ' p ~ n ~ e n t upon

biological

(par lcularl}.neural)

slriicturcs an ; chologlcal situations. In .both types.::>f s l h ~ a b o n

other

f ~ a t u r ~ _ s .

have

to take account of

a re the s tnnu la tmg

objects, and

t he set tmg

l:.{ }_ ~ o n a U i o n s

in which-tlmy

interact with organism. But. ~ ) } ~ i t 1 1 e _ r . ~ a s e

t

t

.. . f ' . . e _ ~ Q i . Q 1 Q g i c a L s t r ~ c ~ u . ~ ~

.

om ?_ , : : ~ o n _ s ~ ( - - . t h e

o r g ; ; t . ~ m

a Jas

S

.(01

/ '. \ something else c a l l ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ l o r .

The

b l o l o ~ l c a l features of the o r g a t ~ m

I It \

ollvimls)y

-co-operotc in a complex field With

many o ther

factors.

I

\/1 1 The role of biological factors in psychological fields is greatly

. luminatcd

by a comparison of b io logical and psychological situations.

.

On

the

biological

levet

behavior

is obviously

the

functioning

or

oper?-

I

ion of the cellular or ti ssue organ izat ion of a particular organism 111

.trrJs tiye.r e ~ < ? ~ ~ l ~ .. i _ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I ~ . e ~ ~ ~ , ~ i y ? l y . S i ~ I . J p ~ ~ . ~ n v i r o n I 1 1 e n ~ a ~ . c o n d i t i o ~ s : - . .

Biological responses

are

t lius eqUivalent to

the

molecular processes

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30 COMMENTS AND QUERIES

The Psychological Record.

1970, 20, 23. 30.

31

biological

development _ ~ _ ~ a c j l ~ J _ t 1 1 ~ r ~ - i s

opsychol()gical behavior

at all. Also,-ilnfil-Uiel)iological development of the organism is com

p t

th ere is a

unique

evolutional parallelism of biological and psycho

logical development. Par

IJassu

with the development of biological co

ordinations the organism develops crawling, walking, talking, and in

creasingly

accurate manipulatory behavior.

.ltjs.

to _be noted, however,

. . ; ?

.that

the_ p ~ c I Q l o g i . ~ L

c Y Q l u t i o n _ . Q t 1 > ~ h ~ y i Q r . ~ p l ) _ t I ~ l : l ~ s ~

19 1g .

afte

the