Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Behavior Analyst logoLink to The Behavior Analyst
. 1987 Spring;10(1):17–26. doi: 10.1007/BF03392403

Three conceptual units for behavior

Roy Moxley
PMCID: PMC2741927  PMID: 22477957

Abstract

Three generic units for behavior are examined in terms of their background: an if-then unit for stimulus and response (S-R), a holistic unit for Kantor's behavior segment, and an AB-because-of-C unit for Skinner's three-term contingency. The units are distinguished in terms of their respective historical backgrounds, causal modes, advantages, and disadvantages. The ways in which these units may be compatible are discussed.

Keywords: behavior analysis, interbehavioral field, mechanistic explanation, S-R psychology, three-term contingency conceptual units

Full text

PDF
17

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Epling W. F., Pierce W. D. The basic importance of applied behavior analysis. Behav Anal. 1986 Spring;9(1):89–99. doi: 10.1007/BF03391932. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Hake D. F. The basic-applied continuum and the possible evolution of human operant social and verbal research. Behav Anal. 1982 Spring;5(1):21–28. doi: 10.1007/BF03393137. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Leigland S. Can radical behaviorism rescue psychology? Behav Anal. 1984 Spring;7(1):73–74. doi: 10.1007/BF03391889. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Moore J. Some historical and conceptual relations among logical positivism, operationism, and behaviorism. Behav Anal. 1985 Spring;8(1):53–63. doi: 10.1007/BF03391912. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Moxley R. Graphics for three-term contingencies. Behav Anal. 1982 Spring;5(1):45–51. doi: 10.1007/BF03393139. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Schoenfeld W. N. The "response" in behavior theory. Pavlov J Biol Sci. 1976 Jul-Sep;11(3):129–149. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Shimp C. P. Cognition, behavior, and the experimental analysis of behavior. J Exp Anal Behav. 1984 Nov;42(3):407–420. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1984.42-407. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Skinner B. F. Selection by consequences. Science. 1981 Jul 31;213(4507):501–504. doi: 10.1126/science.7244649. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Skinner B. F. Some thoughts about the future. J Exp Anal Behav. 1986 Mar;45(2):229–235. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1986.45-229. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Behavior Analyst are provided here courtesy of Association for Behavior Analysis International

RESOURCES