FROM PAVLOV TO SKINNER: THE EVOLUTION OF BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE AND ITS APPLICATION IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Abstract

This paper examines the evolution of behavioural science, tracing its development from its philosophical and experimental origins to the emergence of a technological branch, as seen in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). We investigate the intellectual legacy of notable figures such as Ivan Pavlov, known for his work in classical or respondent conditioning, and Edward Thorndike, the proponent of the Law of Effect. These foundational legacies lead us to B.F. Skinner, who developed the revolutionary and comprehensive system of operant conditioning, the philosophy of radical behaviorism, and functional analysis of language as established in verbal behavior. The development outlined in this paper highlights the importance of explanatory power, functioning as an empirical framework that guides the science and its application to diverse human challenges. The four-term contingency (MO – S^D – B - C), which is central to this framework, is introduced as the mechanism that drives socially significant behavioral change that is measurable. To demonstrate the generality and effectiveness dimensions of this science, we provide a detailed case study on the acquisition of two-word phrasal mands (request) in Adekunle, a four-year-old functionally non-verbal Nigerian child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The data-informed intervention characterizing verbal behavior confirms ABA’s status as an evidence-based intervention for ASD. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research that underscore the importance of global and cultural validation, technological integration, and adherence to contemporary neuro-affirming ethical practices that uphold the principles of client assent and dissent.