A FUNDAÇÃO CIENTÍFICA DA PSICOLOGIA: UMA ANÁLISE ONTOLÓGICA E EPISTEMOLÓGICA A PARTIR DO BEHAVIORISMO RADICAL

Abstract

The consolidation of Psychology as a science has historically been challenged by epistemological difficulties related to the nature of its object of study, traditionally conceived as consisting of private, subjective, and unobservable mental states. Among these challenges, the problem of other minds stands out, questioning the possibility of scientifically knowing the mental states of others, since only one’s own conscious experience is directly accessible. In this context, this dissertation aims to defend the scientific status of Psychology from the perspective of the analytic-behavioral approach, with radical behaviorism as its central theoretical framework. To this end, a philosophical and conceptual analysis is conducted of the notion of science, the historical difficulties faced by Psychology in establishing itself as a scientific discipline, and the implications of mind-body dualism for the epistemological status of the field. Subsequently, the foundations of radical behaviorism are examined, particularly the redefinition of mind as behavior — public or covert — and the rejection of mentalism as a causal explanation. Finally, the implications of this approach for research and clinical practice are discussed, with emphasis on Analytic-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP). It is argued that by shifting the focus from inaccessible inner states to the functional relations between organism and environment, Behavior Analysis makes it possible to methodologically circumvent the problem of other minds while preserving criteria of objectivity, predictability, and control consistent with the natural sciences. The conclusion is that the analytic-behavioral approach provides a philosophically and scientifically robust foundation for Psychology, allowing it to maintain its scientific character despite traditional philosophical dilemmas.