{"title":"A partially hardcoded computational model of arbitrarily applicable relational responding","authors":"Matthias Raemaekers, Martin Finn, Jan De Houwer","doi":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2026.101002","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Relational Frame Theory (RFT) has inspired a considerable body of research demonstrating fundamental aspects of arbitrarily applicable relational responding (AARR) purported to be the building blocks of human language and cognition. Current empirical research has certain limitations, however. Computational modelling allows researchers to circumvent certain practical limitations to studying (the development of) complex forms of AARR and force them to scrutinize the theory, yet limited research has sought to develop computational models of AARR. RFT can guide researchers developing computational models of AARR by emphasizing its operant and context-sensitive nature and by clarifying the nature of the learning history that is required for its development. We describe a partially hardcoded computational model of AARR inspired by RFT. By combining computational reinforcement learning with hardcoded relational knowledge, we simulate AARR as observed in a conceptual replication of the seminal Steele and Hayes (1991) study. Our results add to a growing literature modeling relational behavior and illustrate that RFT can be useful for researchers interested in computational modelling. Implications and future research directions are discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47544,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 101002"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212144726000347","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/5/6 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Relational Frame Theory (RFT) has inspired a considerable body of research demonstrating fundamental aspects of arbitrarily applicable relational responding (AARR) purported to be the building blocks of human language and cognition. Current empirical research has certain limitations, however. Computational modelling allows researchers to circumvent certain practical limitations to studying (the development of) complex forms of AARR and force them to scrutinize the theory, yet limited research has sought to develop computational models of AARR. RFT can guide researchers developing computational models of AARR by emphasizing its operant and context-sensitive nature and by clarifying the nature of the learning history that is required for its development. We describe a partially hardcoded computational model of AARR inspired by RFT. By combining computational reinforcement learning with hardcoded relational knowledge, we simulate AARR as observed in a conceptual replication of the seminal Steele and Hayes (1991) study. Our results add to a growing literature modeling relational behavior and illustrate that RFT can be useful for researchers interested in computational modelling. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science is the official journal of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS).
Contextual Behavioral Science is a systematic and pragmatic approach to the understanding of behavior, the solution of human problems, and the promotion of human growth and development. Contextual Behavioral Science uses functional principles and theories to analyze and modify action embedded in its historical and situational context. The goal is to predict and influence behavior, with precision, scope, and depth, across all behavioral domains and all levels of analysis, so as to help create a behavioral science that is more adequate to the challenge of the human condition.