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It would be interesting to see the Behaviorists deny that the writing of a mathematical treatise, or of some new theory of quantum mechanics represents a form of human behavior which they should study. Some day they must face the fact that they have neglected to consider a great many forms of human behavior - the most characteristic forms at that - and that therefore, they could not produce an adequate theory of the nature of the 'human mind'.

Alfred Korzybski#29

SciencePsychologyTheoryMind

About this quote

What does it mean?
Behaviorists ignore complex human activities like math and theory, limiting their understanding of the mind.
In plain terms
Studying only simple behaviors misses the most important human mental activities.
What can you take from it?
Include complex thought in behavior studies.

Where it applies

  • academic research
  • psychology debate
  • theory building

Putting it to work

  • study higher cognition
  • broaden behavioral scope

Questions to consider

  • What behaviors are overlooked in current studies?
  • How do you define human behavior?

Another view

Some argue complex theories are just complex behaviors.

More from Alfred Korzybski

  1. ...provided we could define all terms. But this is impossible... We thus see that all linguistic schemes, if analyzed far enough, would depend on undefined ter…

    Permalink to quote #28
  2. Aristotelian , Euclidian [line, space, length] and Newtonian [speed of light] systems... have a few unjustified infinities too many: when such an infinity is i…

    Permalink to quote #30
  3. [A Game:] We begin by asking the meaning of every word uttered:Then we ask the meaning of the words used in the definitions and, and this process is continued …

    Permalink to quote #27

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