Ernest A. Vargas

Ernest A. Vargas was an American psychologist and a prominent figure in the development of radical behaviorism and the formal discipline of behaviorology. A dedicated student and colleague of B. F. Skinner, he was instrumental in advancing a natural science approach to behavior analysis, distinct from traditional psychology. His academic career was centered at West Virginia University, where he taught for decades and influenced generations of students through his rigorous scholarship and advocacy for a science of behavior.

Early life and education

Ernest A. Vargas was born in New York City and developed an early interest in the scientific study of behavior. He pursued his undergraduate education at Columbia University, where he was first exposed to the philosophical foundations of science. His intellectual path was decisively shaped when he entered the University of Kansas for his graduate studies. There, he worked under the mentorship of Israel Goldiamond and immersed himself in the experimental and conceptual work of the Department of Human Development. This environment, deeply influenced by the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and the journal *Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior*, solidified his commitment to a natural science perspective on behavior.

Academic career

Upon completing his doctorate, Vargas joined the faculty at West Virginia University in Morgantown, where he would spend the majority of his professional life. He held a professorship in the Department of Psychology and later played a key role in the formation of an independent program aligned with behavior analysis. At West Virginia University, he was known for his demanding courses on the philosophy of science, verbal behavior, and the principles of radical behaviorism. He also served as a consulting editor for major journals in the field, including *The Behavior Analyst* and *Behavior and Philosophy*. His mentorship extended beyond the campus, as he actively participated in conferences for the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the International Society for Behaviorology.

Contributions to behaviorology

Vargas is perhaps best known for his pivotal role in founding and defining the discipline of behaviorology. He argued that the study of behavior should be a separate natural science, akin to biology or physics, rather than a subfield of psychology. Alongside his wife, Julie S. Vargas, and other colleagues, he worked to establish the International Society for Behaviorology and its official journal. His writings, particularly the co-authored text "Behaviorology", systematically outlined the philosophical underpinnings, subject matter, and methods of this new science. He was a staunch advocate for the application of behavior analysis to address complex societal issues, often engaging in dialogues with scholars from fields like anthropology, economics, and political science to promote an interdisciplinary understanding of cultural practices.

Publications and works

Throughout his career, Vargas authored and edited numerous significant works that shaped the discourse in behavior analysis and behaviorology. His early research contributed to the experimental analysis of behavior, but he became increasingly focused on theoretical and philosophical extensions of Skinnerian thought. His major publications include the influential book "Behaviorology", which serves as a foundational textbook for the discipline. He also edited critical volumes on B. F. Skinner's legacy and contributed chapters to seminal works like "Upon Further Reflection" by Skinner. His articles frequently appeared in *The Behavior Analyst*, *Behavior and Philosophy*, and the proceedings of the International Society for Behaviorology, where he addressed topics ranging from verbal behavior and rule-governed behavior to the ethics of cultural design.

Personal life and legacy

Ernest A. Vargas was married to fellow behavior analyst and educator Julie S. Vargas, daughter of B. F. Skinner; their partnership was both personal and profoundly professional, involving extensive collaboration on scholarly projects. He was remembered by colleagues and students as an erudite, passionate, and sometimes formidable thinker who held the highest standards for conceptual clarity. His legacy endures through the continued growth of behaviorology as an organized discipline, the ongoing work of the International Society for Behaviorology, and the many academics and practitioners he trained. His efforts to establish a coherent natural science of behavior, free from the mentalistic traditions of psychology, remain a central reference point for scholars in the behavior analytic community.

Category:American psychologists Category:Behavior analysts Category:1935 births Category:2022 deaths Category:West Virginia University faculty Category:Columbia University alumni Category:University of Kansas alumni