Mentalism Terminology

In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), mentalism terminology refers to explanations of behavior that are not based on observable or measurable information.

A hypothetical construct is an assumed internal process that cannot be directly observed. For example, saying a person doesn’t participate in class because of “low self-esteem” is mentalistic, as “self-esteem” cannot be objectively measured.

An explanatory fiction occurs when a label is treated as the cause of behavior—such as saying, “He doesn’t complete homework because he’s lazy.” While this label describes the behavior, it does not identify observable variables that can be changed.

Circular reasoning happens when an explanation restates the behavior rather than explaining it—for example, “She cries because she is upset.” This adds no meaningful understanding and overlooks the environmental factors influencing behavior.

Instead of relying on mentalistic explanations, ABA focuses on identifying observable antecedents and consequences to create clear, testable, and effective behavioral interventions.