Behavioral Changes of Thaha Syadzli Character in Ali Al-Aswani’s Imarah Yaqubian Novel (A Literary-Psychological Study)

This research aims to analyze the behavioral changes and radicalization process of Thaha Syadzli character in Ali Al-Aswani’s Imarah Yaqubian novel by means of Skinner’s operant conditioning theory. The research employed qualitative descriptive method with a literary-psychological approach. The data of dialogue fragments and narrative excerpts in the novel relating to the character behavioral changes were collected by means of reading and note-taking techniques. The analysis was focused on three aspects namely stimulus, response, and the consequences covering reinforcement, punishment, dan extinction. The findings revealed that Thaha Syadzli behavioral changes were influenced by power relations discrepancy, institutional discrimination, and indoctrination from other characters. These factors ignited the changes of response which is manifested in the form of extreme resistance action and ideological orientation shift. The findings also revealed that the character radicalization process can be revealed through the relation of environmental condition, behavioral response, and the consequences which strengthen or changing individual behaviors.