Diana, Sierra, Lauratu, Jennifer, Grecia, Geneva, Alexis, Rhiannon, Sarah, Emily, Elienai,

Ashlyn

In this chapter, we learned about the requirements for human behavior. The four requirements
of explaining behavior are that it must be inclusive, verifiable, have predictive utility, and be
parsimonious. We also learned about the four explanations or interpretations of human behavior
which are biophysical/biochemical, developmental, cognitive, and behavioral. Each of these four
explanations were measured up to the four requirements of explaining behavior.

Biophysical/biochemical explanations all rated poor except for verifiability. The example that
was used to explain this was observing chromosomes to determine the existence of Down
syndrome. Since we can verify and prove the reasons for behavior this measured well in
inclusivity in explaining behavior.

Developmental explanations measure well on the inclusivity, fair on predictive utility, and poor
on verifiability and parsimony. This explanation is inclusive in that it explains human behavior
and how we develop at different stages of life. As for predictive utility, it measured fair. The
example used was Piaget's Stage Theory of Cognitive Development. Some theories can predict
behavior and we can obtain an average of what most people will do but this does not help us
predict individual behavior.

Cognitive explanations all measured poor except for inclusivity. Cognitive theory is based on
how a person learns and behaves. Behavior can be explained by intellectual and social
behavior, which is why it is measured high on inclusivity.

Behavioral explanations all measured well except for inclusivity measuring at fair. There is
criticism in that the behavior is observable. Behavior can be verified through experimentation,
observation, investigation, etc. Behaviors can be changed to increase appropriate behaviors
which allows for predictive utility. Lastly, this is parsimonious because it utilizes its environment
to understand behavior, it doesn’t use diagnosis or stages to explain behavior.

Discussion Question:

In this article we learned about biophysical/biochemical, developmental, cognitive and

behavioral explanations. Out of these 4 explanations, which explanation nearly reached all 4
areas of explaining behavior (inclusive, verifiability, predictive utility, and parsimony).
ANSWER: Behavioral explanation nearly reached all 4. Inclusivity measured at fair whereas all
the others measured at good.

Thoughts: Overall I found the readings interesting while I did get confused with the last groups
question ( no one answered). I believe the answer was qualitative because if we cannot observe
cognitivism then we are simply analyzing and interpreting the information provided/gathered.
With qualitative we are literally forming our own theory based off of mental processes rather
then observable and recordable information