title: Stability over time: is behavior analysis a trait psychology?
abstract: Historically, behavior analysis and trait psychology have had little in common; however, recent developments in behavior analysis bring it closer to one of the core assumptions of the trait approach: the stability of behavior over time and, to a lesser extent, environments. The introduction of the concept of behavioral momentum and, in particular, the development of molar theories have produced some common features and concerns. Behavior-analytic theories of stability provide improved explanations of many everyday phenomena and make possible the expansion of behavior analysis into areas that have been inadequately addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Box 5621, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Avenue, New London, Connecticut. savys@conncoll.edu
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vyse