Experimental analysis of behaviour in the European French-speaking area

The Influence and development of behaviour analysis in French-speaking Europe has been different in the

different countries, as can be seen when comparing developments in France and in the French-speaking

parts of Belgium and Switzerland. French psychology has shown persistent reluctance towards behaviour

analysis, except for a few individuals in a few institutional circles. On the other hand, Belgium has been the

main centre from which behaviour analysis has propagated to the French-speaking area as a whole. Territorial

specificities both in experimental analysis and in applied behaviour analysis are described and placed in context.

In general, French-speaking Europe has not been especially receptive to Skinner’s radical analysis of

behaviour. Few of Skinner’s books have been translated into French, as compared with other major Western

languages. In none of the geographical areas being considered was psychology prepared to integrate radical

behaviourism, in spite of its having important experimental developments in learning, perception, cognition,

and other basic processes. By the time some faint echoes of Skinner’s work reached France and its neighbours,

cognitivism had already invaded. In spite of the lack of experimental and conceptual developments,

applications mainly in behaviour therapy and in special and normal education did take place in all Frenchspeaking

countries.

Read the paper