Expanding the Content in OBM

Abstract

This paper is written in response to the paper by Geller (2002) contained in this volume. Geller proposes that OBM needs to establish its foundation by entertaining research methodologies, concepts, and content areas from other areas of psychology. However, less consistent with his position, in this commentary it is suggested that OBM must maintain its philosophical roots in behaviorism. To accomplish this, it is proposed that (a) concepts from outside the behavior analytic literature need to be explicitly interpreted as environment-behavior interactions, not person-behavior interactions and (b) to be viable our graduate training should focus more on this perspective.

Key Words:

• Organizational behavior management
• industrial/organizational psychology
• racial behaviorism
• environment-behavior interactions