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. 1988 Fall;11(2):161–179. doi: 10.1007/BF03392470

Contingencies and metacontingencies: Toward a synthesis of behavior analysis and cultural materialism

Sigrid S Glenn
PMCID: PMC2741963  PMID: 22478011

Abstract

A synthesis of cultural materialism and behavior analysis might increase the scientific and technological value of both fields. Conceptual and substantive relations between the two fields show important similarities, particularly with regard to the causal role of the environment in behavioral and cultural evolution. Key concepts in Marvin Harris's cultural materialist theories are outlined. A distinction is made between contingencies at the behavioral level of analysis (contingencies of reinforcement) and contingencies at the cultural level of analysis (metacontingencies). Relations between the two kinds of contingencies are explored in cultural practices from paleolithic to industrial sociocultural systems. A synthesis of these two fields may offer the opportunity to resolve serious problems currently facing modern cultures.

Keywords: cultural materialism, metacontingency, cultural evolution, behavior analysis

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Selected References

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

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