Dynamic Interactions between Induction and Reinforcement in the Organization of Behavior.

Abstract

Behavior is dynamic because it results from the interactions between organisms and their environment. Reinforcement is the primary mechanism for explaining behavior, and it has evolved in various ways, allowing for the explanation of different aspects of behavior acquisition and maintenance. The adequacy of reinforcement in explaining behavior acquisition has mostly been tested on target behaviors. However, a broader understanding of behavior requires accounting not only for target behaviors but for all behaviors in a given situation. This article presents several experiments showcasing schedule-induced behaviors to analyze the variables that determine which behaviors are acquired and how they are organized. First, the effects of both physical and contingency-based constraints on the organization of behavior are examined. Second, the role of competition and collaboration between behaviors in determining their distribution is discussed. Third, a dual effect of reinforcers on behavioral patterns is proposed. It is concluded that behaviors interact with one another and with environmental stimuli, and behavioral patterns are continuously induced, updated, and reinforced. Data in this article highlight the need to focus on the moment-to-moment updating of behavioral patterns to fully understand behavioral dynamics.