Author Henry D. Schlinger, Jr., provides the first text to demonstrate how behavior analysis-a natural science approach to human behavior-can be used to understand existing research in child development. The text presents a behavior-analytic interpretation of fundamental research in mainstream developmental psychology, offering a unified theoretical understanding of child development. Chapters examine mnemonic, motor, perceptual, cognitive, language, and social development.

We humans are faced with an interesting problem: That which we think we un derstand the most-our own behavior-we probably understand the least. On the eve of a new millennium. the planet is beset by a host of problems that are. for the most part. caused by human behavior. Ironically. although it seems that the greatest impact of our behavior is on the planet and its other inhabitants. we may actually be threatening our own future the most. For example. we have caused untold harm to the air we breathe. to the water we drink. and. by exten sion. to much of the food we eat. More important...