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Contemporary Behaviorisms in Debate

Theoretical behaviorism

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Staddon, J
August 27, 2021

Theoretical behaviorism has evolved from radical behaviorism. To stimulus and response it adds the idea of state: the state (conceptual, not physiological) of the organism defines the repertoire of responses available in a given stimulus context. Classical and operant conditioning are just different faces of the same coin. Classical conditioning is a process that detects correlations between environmental features and something of value, positive or negative, to the organism. This correlation induces a repertoire from which operant reinforcement can select. If the correlation is very strong and the unconditioned stimulus is imminent, then the induced repertoire may be limited-to pecking (in a hungry pigeon) or to salivation (in a restrained dog). Selection, in the sense of a response contingency, may be unnecessary. The result may look like a reflex, but isn't, although restricted behavioral options and extreme motivation may make it appear so.

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August 27, 2021

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79 / 95
 

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Staddon, J. (2021). Theoretical behaviorism. In Contemporary Behaviorisms in Debate (pp. 79–95). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77395-3_7
Staddon, J. “Theoretical behaviorism.” In Contemporary Behaviorisms in Debate, 79–95, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77395-3_7.
Staddon J. Theoretical behaviorism. In: Contemporary Behaviorisms in Debate. 2021. p. 79–95.
Staddon, J. “Theoretical behaviorism.” Contemporary Behaviorisms in Debate, 2021, pp. 79–95. Scopus, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-77395-3_7.
Staddon J. Theoretical behaviorism. Contemporary Behaviorisms in Debate. 2021. p. 79–95.

DOI

Publication Date

August 27, 2021

Start / End Page

79 / 95