Equivalence relations and the reinforcement contingency.
Where do equivalence relations come from? One possible answer is that they arise directly from the reinforcement contingency. That is to say, a reinforcement contingency produces two types of outcome: (a) 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, or n-term units of analysis that are known, respectively, as operant reinforcement, simple discrimination, conditional discrimination, second-order conditional discrimination, and so on; and (b) equivalence relations that consist of ordered pairs of all positive elements that participate in the contingency. This conception of the origin of equivalence relations leads to a number of new and verifiable ways of conceptualizing equivalence relations and, more generally, the stimulus control of operant behavior. The theory is also capable of experimental disproof.
Sidman
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New England Center for Children, Southborough, Massachusetts 01772-2108, USA.
D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D006801:Humans; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology