Discussion and Conceptual Analysis of Four Group Contingencies for Behavioral Process Improvement in an ABA Service Delivery Quality Framework.

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) organizations that provide services to children with autism can apply contingencies to improve employee performance or behavioral processes. Such contingencies may be especially important for maximizing ABA service delivery quality (ASDQ). For some behavioral processes, group contingencies applied to the behavior of individuals within the process may be more appropriate than individualized contingencies. In the history of the profession, behavior analysts have used group contingencies at the operant level of selection, such as independent, interdependent, and dependent group contingencies. However, recent experimental work in culturo-behavioral science suggests the metacontingency, an analogue of the operant contingency at the cultural level of selection, can also control the behavior of individuals in a group. This article discusses how such group-oriented contingencies could be used by managers in organizations in behavioral process improvement efforts to target key performance indicators of quality in an ASDQ framework. The paper ends with a discussion of limitations and future research.

Metacontingency Terminology, Philosophical Assumptions, and the Scientific Dialogue: A Response to Ardila-Sánchez and Hayes (2023).

Ardila-Sánchez and Hayes (2023, this issue) discuss how differing philosophical assumptions might reflect on differing metacontingency terminology and debate some of the arguments presented by Sampaio and Haydu (2023). We respond by restating the urgent need to clarify the definition of cultural milieu, which is illustrated by an argument about discriminative stimuli as components of the cultural milieu. We clarify that the differences in metacontingency terminology that we did not emphasize were related to interlocking behavioral contingencies (IBCs) and cultural consequences, and not to cultural milieu and group-rule generation. We question any rigid separations of "Skinnerian" and "Kantorian views" of cultural phenomena, insisting that we focus on a unified culturo-behavior science. We elucidate that verbal responses and stimuli may participate in IBCs, cultural antecendents, or selecting environment variables; answer some questions about the latter two concepts; and clarify that the we presented a COVID-19 psychological support project not to empirically validate the concept, but to illustrate and test the conceptual coherence of the terms and theory.

Cultural Milieu and Group-Rules in an Elaborated Account of Metacontingencies: Conceptual Analysis and an Illustration in a COVID-19 Psychological Support Project.

The elaborated account of the metacontingency explicitly incorporated the role of antecedent events (with the concept of cultural milieu or cultural-organizational milieu) and verbal behavior (clearly related to what was termed group-rule generation). We argue that the cultural milieu encompasses two functionally distinct entities: antecedent environmental variables affecting the culturant (the organization members' activities)-what we termed cultural antecedents; and variables affecting the selecting environment or the consumer practices (members external to the organization responsible for producing cultural consequences)-what we termed selecting environment variables. Besides that, we propose that group-rule generation is not an element of a metacontingency distinct from the culturant, but that it describes verbal components of the interlocking behavioral contingencies; and that these verbal components are not present in all culturants but are especially important in more complex ones. We illustrate this conceptual analysis with reference to a COVID-19 psychological support project undertaken at a public university in Brazil and conclude by suggesting theoretical and methodological implications.

Effects of Metacontingencies on Cooperative Behavior: A Systematic Replication Using Innovative Procedures during Isolation.

The study replicated research on metacontingencies that used a chessboard simulating a simplified chess game, in a completely online environment, with participants in their homes. Dyads of participants had to work together moving two knights in L-shape. Each trial ended when the knights met in adjacent squares. The squares where the knights should meet (aggregate product [AP]) varied in two conditions, using an ABAB design. In conditions A, knights should meet anywhere on the chessboard, and there was no consequence. In conditions B, the matrix of reinforceable squares was gradually reduced in four phases and knights' encounters were followed by different messages when correct or incorrect (cultural consequences). In group 1, five dyads were allowed to communicate. In group 2, dyads had no access to video call. Results of group 1 corroborate the findings of the original studies that showed a decrease in APs variability from conditions A to B, when communication was allowed. Group 2 showed similar results, therefore extending to the setting that not allowed communication. The online platform XadrezWeb, developed for this study, was an important tool to program the interlocked behavior contingencies and collect data during social isolation.

Exploring Quality in the Applied Behavior Analysis Service Delivery Industry.

As the applied behavior analysis (ABA) service industry ("the industry") continues to rapidly expand, it faces three major problems. First, ABA service delivery quality (ASDQ) is undefined in ABA research and the industry. Second, we cannot rely exclusively on professional organizations that oversee licensure and certification to control ABA service delivery quality because they do not have control over the relevant contingencies. Third, without objective indicators of ABA service delivery quality, it is difficult for ABA organizations to distinguish the quality of their services from competitors. In this article, first we explain the need for more critical discussion of ASDQ in the field at large, briefly describe a sample of common views of quality in ABA research and the industry, and identify some of their limitations. Then we define ASDQ and present a cohesive theoretical framework which brings ASDQ within the scope of our science so that we might take a more empirical approach to understanding and strengthening ASDQ. Next, we explain how organizations can use culturo-behavioral science to understand their organization's cultural practices in terms of cultural selection and use the evidence-based practice of ABA at the organizational level to evaluate the extent to which methods targeting change initiatives result in high ASDQ. Lastly, in a call to action we provide ABA service delivery organizations with six steps they can take now to pursue high ASDQ by applying concepts from culturo-behavioral science and total quality management.

Relations between Description and Experimentation in the Metacontingency Enterprise: An Interbehavioral Analysis.

Despite extensive theoretical development, there is a lack of consensus in the metacontingency enterprise on the extent to which current metacontingency constructs describe experimental happenings. The purpose of this article is to provide an interbehavioral analysis of the metacontingency enterprise that examines relations between description and experimentation in order to facilitate research on cultural selection occurring through metacontingencies. In particular, this article considers how stimulus functions of descriptions of metacontingency constructs participate in metacontingency experiments in terms of specificity, types of analysis, levels of analysis, and procedures. The extent to which experimental findings are able to be described in terms of metacontingency constructs is assessed. Prominent events and relations demonstrated by metacontingency experiments are summarized and discussed, as well as inconsistencies between relations described and relations constructed based on events observed. Recommendations for experimental and descriptive adjustments are offered. Although this analysis may or may not have any bearing on the metacontingency enterprise, it may serve as a template for conducting interbehavioral analyses of activities in other enterprises, if not more analyses of the metacontingency enterprise.

The Beethoven Revolution: A Case Study in Selection by Consequence.

Music as a pervasive cultural practice serves many functions for a community, and its selection is determined by the interaction between multiple contingencies at individual, group, and society levels. An analysis was recently conducted on the dynamic interaction between contingencies in frescoes art that promoted the Mexican Muralist movement (Malott, 2019, 2020). Following this example, we provide a selectionist account of the music of Ludwig van Beethoven in the 250th anniversary of his birth. We explored the variation, selection, and transmission of his music over the course of his life and career in the sociopolitical milieu of his time, as well as after his death. The dissemination of Beethoven's music was characterized by aggregate products resulting from a number of interlocking contingencies, which created a high demand for his music. Our analysis highlights two levels of relational processes in the selection of Beethoven's music: The relational repertoire that enabled Beethoven to compose masterpieces while he was completely deaf, and the symbolic meaning of his music in promoting the values of freedom and democracy in many societies.

Diseño de macro y metacontingencia para la promoción del comportamiento proambiental y urbano responsable / Macro and meta-contingency design for the promotion of a responsible pro-environmental and urban behavior

Resumen El objetivo de este trabajo teórico es introducir los conceptos de macrocontingencia y metacontingencia en el campo de la psicología ambiental y su papel en la promoción de acciones colectivas en pro del medio ambiente natural y construido. Se proponen este tipo de contingencias para el diseño de prácticas culturales y programas sociales que ayuden a resolver problemas ambientales como el cambio climático, la extinción de especies, la contaminación del agua, la deforestación, las migraciones, el vandalismo, etc., e incentivar comportamientos urbanos responsables como el uso de la bicicleta y del transporte urbano, el reciclaje, etc. Aunque las acciones de cada persona pueden contribuir a las soluciones, el planteamiento del presente manuscrito se centra en el efecto acumulativo y las acciones entrelazadas de los individuos que producen un resultado eficaz para el bienestar de muchas personas y del medio ambiente. La conducta guiada por reglas se presenta como el mecanismo de aprendizaje para introducir las macrocontingencias y metacontingencias en la comunidad. A partir del pragmatismo como visión paradigmática, se discute la efectividad de las macrocontingencias y metacontingencias para explicar los procesos culturales en la promoción de acciones efectivas para el medio ambiente.

Abstract This article aims to introduce the concepts of macrocontingency and metacontingency into environmental psychology to promote collective actions in pro of the natural and urban environment. The design of cultural practices oriented to achieve the goal requires the definition of contingencies that promote social process to solve environmental problems such as: climate change, species extinction, water contamination, deforestation, migration, vandalism, etc, and to encourage responsible urban behaviors such as the use of bicycles, urban transport, recycling, among others. Although each person´s actions may contribute to the solutions, the approach of this theoretical paper is focused on the cumulative effect and the interconnected actions of people that produce an effective outcome for the well-being of many and the environment. Rule - driven behavior is showed as the learning mechanism to introduce the macrocontingencies and metacontingencies in the community. Based on pragmatism as a paradigmatic view, it is discussed the effectiveness of macrocontingencies and metacontingencies in explaining cultural processes to promote effective actions for the environment.

Efeitos de um Análogo de Reforçamento Negativo sobre a Seleção de Culturantes / Effects of an Analogue of Negative Reinforcement on the Selection of Culturants

Resumo O presente estudo investigou os efeitos de um análogo de reforçamento negativo sobre a seleção de culturantes e, diferentemente de estudos anteriores, buscou eliminar a interferência da punição negativa de outros culturantes. Três microculturas de laboratório, com três participantes cada, foram expostas a um delineamento ABAB. Os participantes escolhiam entre linhas coloridas e numeradas de 1 a 10. Na condição de Reforçamento Positivo (A), os culturantes-alvo produziam consequências culturais. Na condição de Reforçamento Negativo (B), as consequências culturais eram subtraídas a cada 30s, mas os culturantes-alvo podiam adiar a perda dessas consequências. O análogo de reforçamento negativo, assim como o de reforçamento positivo, selecionou os culturantes-alvo sem a interferência de contingências punitivas acidentais.

Abstract The present research investigated the effect of a negative reinforcement analog on the selection of culturants and, unlike previous studies, sought to eliminate the interference of the negative punishment of other culturants. Three laboratory microcultures, with three participants in each of them, were exposed to an ABAB design. The participants chose between colored lines, numbered from 1 to 10. In the Positive Reinforcement condition (A), target culturants produced cultural consequences. In the Negative Reinforcement condition (B), cultural consequences were subtracted every 30 seconds, but target culturants could delay the loss of those consequences. The analog of negative reinforcement, as well as that of positive reinforcement, selected target culturants without the interference of accidental punitive contingencies.

Metacontingências e Autocontrole Ético: Efeito das magnitudes das consequências individuais e culturais / Metacontingencies and Ethical Self-Control: Effect of magnitudes of individual and cultural consequences

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da manipulação das magnitudes das consequências individuais e culturais sobre o padrão de escolhas em situações de autocontrole ético e metacontingências. Seis estudantes universitários foram divididos em duas microculturas, uma com delineamento ABCAC'B'A e outra com um delineamento AC'B'ABCA. Nas condições B e B', a magnitude da consequência individual para respostas impulsivas aumentava enquanto a consequência cultural diminuía. Nas condições C e C', aumentava a magnitude da consequência cultural e diminuía a consequência individual. Os resultados indicaram a seleção de um padrão de escolhas em ambas as microculturas pela consequência cultural, com pouca ou nenhuma influência da manipulação da magnitude das consequências.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the magnitudes of the individual and cultural consequences on the pattern of choices in situations of ethical self-control and metacontingencies. Six college students were divided into two microcultures, one with ABCAC'B'A design and another with an AC'B'ABCA design. In conditions B and B' the magnitude of the individual consequence for impulsive responses increased while the cultural consequence diminished. In conditions C and C' the magnitude of the cultural consequence increased and the individual consequence diminished. The results indicated the selection of a pattern of choices by the groups of both microcultures, according to the cultural consequence, with little or no influence of the manipulation of the magnitude of the consequences.

Underlying Principles of a Covid-19 Behavioral Vaccine for a Sustainable Cultural Change.

Until pharmacological measures are effective at containing the COVID-19 outbreak, adopting protective behaviors is paramount. In this work, we aim at informing interventions to limit the spread of the contagion and prepare against any future outbreaks by developing a behavioral framework to interpret and prescribe both the individual and large-scale uptake of non-pharmaceutical measures. First, we analyze the barriers and facilitators to adherence to protective behaviors according to a three-term contingency by exploring potential gaps in terms of setting stimuli, motivating operations, delayed consequences, and positive or negative consequences. We explore their roles in the likelihood of individual compliance to protective behaviors, taking physical distancing as an example of functional analysis. Second, we interpret contagion control as the cumulative effect of large-scale adherence to protective behaviors. We explore the interrelations between societal problems caused or amplified by similar behaviors presented by many individuals and the coordination of agents or agencies aiming at promoting large-scale behavioral change. Then, we highlight the potential of developing a behavioral vaccine, and practical steps for applying it to promote sustainable cultural change that may protect against health, social, and economic losses in future outbreaks.

The untapped potential of behaviour analysis and interprofessional care.

Interprofessional collaboration has become a sought-after component of quality mental health care. Higher education institutions and mental health organizations seek to equip clinicians with the ability to provide cohesive clinical services while working collaboratively with a diverse group of professionals. Although research suggests that there may be benefits of interprofessional collaboration in mental health settings, collaborative practice initiatives have struggled with conceptual and methodological limitations. A behaviour analytic contribution to interprofessional care provides a philosophical position with an analytical goal distinguished by the prediction and influence of events, theoretical clarity, and methodological rigour that are needed within interprofessional research and practice. At the philosophical level, the extension of functional contextualism to interprofessional care research may provide a framework to achieve the valued ends of improving interprofessional collaboration and ultimately improving health-related outcomes for service users. Interprofessional collaboration can be conceptualized as metacontingency, a behaviour analytic concept that allows for a group level analysis of contributing social components. This paper uses the example of mental health care to guide a conceptual analysis of the potential application of behaviour analytic methodology within interprofessional practice, research, and education.

Seleção de culturantes por dois tipos de metacontingências / Culturant's selection by two types of metacontingency

A programação de um tipo de metacontingência envolve reforçamento direto de respostas individuais envolvidas nas contingências comportamentais entrelaçadas (CCEs), já que os culturantes são selecionados por consequências culturais (CC). Outro tipo de programação de metacontingências envolve situações nas quais (CC) exercem um duplo papel, selecionando tanto respostas quanto culturantes. Este estudo verificou se a programação de diferentes tipos de metacontingências produziria diferentes padrões de respostas ou culturantes. Participaram duas tríades de universitários. Na condição A, vigoraram metacontingências com programação de reforçamento direto de respostas. Na condição B, vigoraram metacontingências na qual CC exerce a função de selecionar tanto respostas quanto culturantes. A Tríade 1 foi exposta ao delineamento ABAB. Já enquanto a Tríade 2, ao delineamento BABA. Na condição A, participantes emitiram respostas que eforam reforçadas diretamente e engajaram em culturantes que produziram consequências. Na condição B, houve queda na frequência de respostas e manutenção dos culturantes. Conclui-se que a programação de diferentes tipos de metacontingências produz diferentes efeitos sobre respostas individuais mas não sobre culturantes. Discutem-se ainda potenciais contribuições e limitações do procedimento adotado neste estudo.

The arrangement of a type of metacontingency involves direct reinforcement for individual responses that compound interlocking behavioral contingencies (IBCs) since culturants are selected by cultural consequences (CC). Another type of arrangement involves situations in which CC has a dual role, selecting both responses and culturants. Therefore, there isn't IC. This paper aimed to verify if the arrangement of different types of metacontingencies would produce different patterns of responses or culturants. Two triads of undergraduate students participated in this study. In condition A, metacontingencies that involved direct reinforcement to responses and CC for culturants prevailed. In condition B, the CC selected responses as well as culturants. Triad 1 was exposed to the ABAB design while triad 2 was exposed to the BABA design. In condition A, participants emitted responses and engaged in culturants that produced consequences. In condition B, the frequency of responses decreased and culturants were maintained. We conclude that the arrangement of different types of metacontingencies produces different effects upon individual responses but not upon culturants. We did not see exposition order effects throw conditions. Furthermore, we discuss potential contributions and limitations of the procedure used in this study.

Units of Analysis for Corruption Experiments: Operant, Culturobehavioral Lineage, Culturant, and Macrobehavior.

To comprehensively understand the processes involved in social issues such as corruption, a behavior science has to rely on rigorous experimentation, interdisciplinary dialogue, and the use of diverse units of analysis. The present article proposes a behavioral analysis of corruption, highlighting how different units of analysis (operant behavior, culturobehavioral lineage, culturant, and macrobehavior) account for different facets of this social phenomenon. We propose that corrupt behavior involves relations in which there is a conflict between consequences for the individual and effects for the group-a concept similar to that of an ethical self-controlled response. This response can occur independently or in coordination with responses by other individuals. In addition, verbal control, as well as social reinforcement and punishment, plays an important role in the maintenance and transmission of this behavioral pattern. After presenting examples of how the theme has been experimentally studied in recent years, we conclude by suggesting that experimental studies on ethical self-control may fruitfully contribute to a behavioral analysis of corruption in its multiple dimensions.

How a Few Individuals Brought about a Cultural Cusp: From a Mexican Mural Program to a Movement.

Significant cultural change often results from the interlocking behavior of a few individuals. The phenomenon is nonreplicable because a considerable portion of the major players' interactions are nonrecurring and driven by unique circumstances. Yet, these interactions can be analyzed from a behavioral science perspective. As an example, I describe how five individuals made possible the cultural cusp that created an unprecedented social revolution through public murals in Mexico. I analyze how their repertoires complemented each other, the circumstances that brought them together, and the values that united them. Their unique interactions coalesced with recurring interlocking behavioral contingencies that created the movement. The example could shed light on the understanding of other cultural phenomenon with similar properties.

Culturo-behavioral Hypercycles and the Metacontingency: Incorporating Self-Organizing Dynamics into an Expanded Model of Cultural Change.

Selection by consequences is a causal mode that operates across multiple levels of analysis including in biological organisms via natural selection, and at the levels of individual (via operant contingencies) and cultural behaviors (Skinner, 1953, Science, 213, 501-504, 1981, 1988, 1989; Glenn in The Behavior Analyst, 11(2), 161-179, 1988, The Behavior Analyst, 27(2), 133-151, 2004). The common dynamics of systems within which selection by consequences operates has led to attempts to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of adaptation. The metacontingency (Glenn in The Behavior Analyst, 11(2), 161-179, 1988, The Behavior Analyst, 27(2), 133-151, 2004) has been proposed as a process of cultural-level selection, but this proposal has been challenged in several critiques. First, several theorists have suggested that the metacontingency addresses within-groups processes of selection that have already been addressed by more parsimonious theories. Second, principles of self-organizing systems, should they apply within cultural settings, may significantly limit the efficacy of the metacontingency as a construct of cultural analysis. More recently, additional processes of selection, the selection of cultures and cultural selection (Couto & Sandaker in Behavior & Social Issues, 25, 54-60, 2016) have been suggested as between-groups processes of selection, operating at a level higher than operant selection, and fulfilling the role of cultural-level selection as proposed by Skinner. In the present article, these new processes will be considered in light of principles of self-organization and the conditions within which self-organization may occur. The culturant hypercycle, the operant hypercycle, and interactions between the two (culturo-behavioral hypercycles) are defined as self-organizing processes that help to explain how the selection of cultures and cultural selection may occur. Further, the theory of self-organizing systems is used to explain how self-organizing dynamics may emerge via metacontingencies, reintegrating the culturant and metacontingent selection into an expanded model explaining processes of cultural evolution.

Merchandising Social como uma Estratégia de Intervenção em Metacontingências: Análise de uma Obra de Ficção Televisiva sobre o Controle do Tráfico de Pessoas no Brasil / Social Merchandising as an Intervention Strategy in Metacontingencies: Analysis of a Work of Television Fiction about the Control of Human Trafficking in Brazil

RESUMO Estudos de fenômenos culturais, a partir da Análise do Comportamento, contribuem para o planejamento cultural ao utilizar estratégias como o merchandising social. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar metacontingências, a partir de um tema social com forte impacto - tráfico de pessoas - em uma novela brasileira de grande audiência: Salve Jorge. As cenas relativas ao tema foram descritas em termos de contingências, classificadas em sete metacontingências, as quais foram apresentadas em alta frequência no transcorrer dos capítulos. O impacto da novela foi observado no aumento da frequência de notícias sobre tráfico de pessoas em seis jornais, além de denúncias registradas nos períodos anterior, simultâneo e posterior à exibição de Salve Jorge. As notícias são indicadores do efeito positivo da obra de ficção sobre o reconhecimento e definição de "tráfico de pessoas", o que contribuei para a frequência de denúncias em órgãos competentes e a implementação das intervenções.

ABSTRACT Behavior-analytic studies of cultural phenomena can contribute to cultural planning by using strategies such as social merchandising. The goal of this research was to analyze metacontingencies based on a social theme of great impact - human trafficking - in a Brazilian soap opera (Salve Jorge) with a large audience. Scenes related to the theme were described in terms of contingencies, classified in seven metacontingencies, which were presented in high frequency throughout the chapters. The impact of the soap opera was observed in the increased frequency of news about human trafficking in six newspapers as well as complaints registered in the periods before, simultaneous and after the exhibition of Salve Jorge. The news is indicative of the positive effect of a work of fiction on the recognition and definition of "human trafficking", which also contributes to a higher frequency of complaints and interventions implemented by competent agencies.

Efeitos de dois procedimentos de suspensão da dependência entre contingências comportamentais entrelaçadas e eventos culturais / Effects of two procedures of dependency suspension between interlocked behavioral contingencies and cultural events

O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar o papel da dependência/contingência entre um efeito programado no ambiente (EC) e um padrão coordenado de espaçamento entre as respostas de três participantes (CCE), em um procedimento de culturante livre e delineamento experimental intrassujeito. Foram realizados 3 experimentos, dos quais participaram 24 estudantes universitários, divididos em 8 tríades. A tarefa consistiu no clique sobre uma imagem apresentada em uma tela de computador. Foram programados ECs para um dado espaçamento entre os cliques dos participantes. Nos Experimentos 1 e 2, adicionalmente, foram programadas consequências individuais para o clicar, e as manipulações na relação de dependência entre CCEs e ECs foram avaliadas a partir de uma linha de base operante. O Experimento 1 isolou os efeitos da dependência do EC dos efeitos de sua intermitência, frequência e distribuição, comparando condições de apresentação contingente do EC (em intervalos variados - VI) e condições de apresentação não contingente desse evento (em intervalos de tempo variado - VT). O Experimento 2, por sua vez, comparou os efeitos da apresentação de ECs em VT com os efeitos da suspensão da apresentação desse evento (extinção convencional EXT). O Experimento 3, finalmente, comparou os efeitos de EXT e VT, sem que houvesse outra contingência programada, adicionalmente à contingência CCE-EC (metacontingência). Os resultados dos três experimentos evidenciaram o estabelecimento e manutenção de CCEs em função dos esquemas de apresentação do EC. Comparações entre esquemas contingentes e não contingentes demonstraram a importância da dependência/contingência do EC para o estabelecimento e manutenção sistemática de CCEs. Comparações entre EXT e VT evidenciaram que a apresentação não contingente de ECs gera efeitos assistemáticos na manutenção de CCEs. Enquanto as condições de EXT geraram rápida extinção das CCEs, as condições de VT geraram efeitos diversos: ora extinção... (AU)

This study aimed to investigate the role of dependency/contingency between a programmed environmental effect (CE) and a coordinated pattern of spacing between responses of three participants (IBC), in a free culturant procedure and a single-subject experimental design. Were performed three experiments, participated 24 undergraduate students divided into 8 tryads. The task consisted in clicking on an image presented on a computer screen. Were programmed CEs contingent to a specific spacing pattern between participants clicks. Also, in experiments 1 and 2 were programmed individual consequences to clicking, so the manipulations in the dependency relation between CEs and IBCs were analyzed upon an operant baseline. Experiment 1 isolated the effects of CE dependency from its intermittency, frequency, and distribution effects, comparing conditions of contingent CEs presentations (in variable intervals VI) and noncontingent CEs presentations (in variable time VT). Experiment 2, in turn, compared the effects of CEs presentations in VT, and CEs suspension effects (conventional extinction EXT). Experiment 3, finally, compared effects of EXT and VT, with no other programmed contingency besides the CCE-EC contingency. The results of the three experiments showed establishment and maintenance of IBCs as a function of CEs schedules. Comparison between contingent and noncontingent schedules of CEs presentations demonstrated the importance of dependency/contingency of CE for establishment and systematic maintenance of IBCs. Comparison between EXT and VT demonstrated that noncontingent presentation of CEs generates unsystematic effects in IBCs maintenance. While EXT conditions generated rapid extinction effects, VT conditions generated diverse effects: sometimes extinction, sometimes maintenance of IBCs for long periods. Similarities were observed between the processes of selection, maintenance, and extinction of operants and culturants. As a whole, these results... (AU)

Metacontingência, dilema do prisioneiro e cooperação: efeitos da interação verbal e da forma de apresentação da consequência cultural / Metacontingency, prisoners dilemma, and cooperation: effects of verbal interaction and form of cultural consequence presentation

Em uma metacontingência, respostas de dois ou mais indivíduos interagindo (denominadas um culturante) produzem estímulos (denominados de consequências culturais) capazes de afetar a recorrências daquelas respostas. Resultados de experimentos sobre metacontingência têm sido tratados como demonstrações de um tipo de seleção cultural. Além de sugerir a importância de interações verbais entre participantes, alguns desses experimentos têm empregado tarefas baseadas no dilema do prisioneiro repetido (iterated prisoners dilemma, IPD) interpretando-o, porém, como a programação apenas de contingências operantes. O Experimento 1 avaliou se um IPD com mais de 200 tentativas produziria escolhas cooperativas simultâneas de modo fidedigno e se a interação verbal entre participantes aumentaria a cooperação. 4 quartetos de universitários utilizaram 4 computadores conectados em rede (sem contato visual) e foram expostos a condições com ou sem permissão para usar uma sala de bate-papo pelo computador (chat) em um delineamento de linhas de base múltiplas entre quartetos. Os resultados demonstraram claramente que escolhas cooperativas unânimes podem ocorrer fidedignamente em um IPD e que a interação verbal entre participantes aumenta rapidamente tais escolhas. Esses resultados destacam a semelhança entre estudos sobre IPD e sobre metacontingências, nos quais são programadas consequências para comportamentos inter-relacionados de vários indivíduos. No Experimento 2, uma consequência cultural foi sobreposta às consequências já programadas pelo IPD: os quartetos podiam produzir pontos iguais para todos os participantes (feedback do mercado) contingentes a diferentes números de escolhas cooperativas. Como no Experimento 1, condições nas quais o uso do chat eram ou não permitidos foram arranjadas em um delineamento de linhas de base múltiplas entre quartetos. A interação verbal promoveu rápida e marcadamente a seleção cultural pelo feedback do mercado. Um quarteto... (AU)

In a metacontingency, responses of two or more interacting individuals (a culturant) produce stimuli (called cultural consequences) that affect the recurrence of those responses. Results of metacontingency experiments are said to demonstrate a kind of cultural selection. Besides suggesting the importance of verbal interactions between participants, some of these experiments have used tasks based on the iterated prisoner's dilemma (IPD) interpreting it, however, as programming only operant contingencies. Experiment 1 examined whether an IPD with 200-plus trials would produce simultaneous cooperative choices reliably and whether verbal interaction between participants would increase cooperation. 4 quartets of undergraduate and graduate students used 4 networked computers (without visual contact), and were exposed to conditions with or without permission to use the computer chat room in a multiple baseline design between quartets. Results clearly demonstrate that unanimous cooperative choices can occur reliably in an IPD, and that verbal interaction between participants rapidly increases such choices. These results highlight the similarity between IPD and metacontingencies studies, both of which program consequences for inter-related behaviors of many individuals. In Experiment 2, a cultural consequence was superimposed on the consequences already programmed by the IPD: quartets could produce equal points for all participants (market feedback) contingent on different numbers of cooperative choices. As in Experiment 1, we arranged conditions in which chat use were or not allowed in a multiple baseline design between quartets. Verbal interaction quickly and markedly promoted cultural selection by the market feedback. One quartet presented some control of culturants by the market feedback before verbal interactions, but production of cultural consequences increased substantially after using the chat. Experiment 3 replicated Experiment 2 presenting the... (AU)

A análise do comportamento no contexto do estudo evolucionista do comportamento social e da cultura / Behavior analysis in the context of the evolutionary study of social behavior and culture / El análisis de la conducta en el contexto del estudio evolucionista de la conducta social y cultura

A Análise do Comportamento pode ser entendida como uma perspectiva voltada para o estudo evolucionista do comportamento social e da cultura. A caracterização do comportamento social nessa área e pesquisas recentes sobre metacontingências e macrocontingências são contribuições nesse sentido. Outras perspectivas evolucionistas mais próximas da Biologia também têm produzido diversas teorias e resultados sobre o tema, mas sem dialogar com a Análise do Comportamento, que, por sua vez, pouco debate as contribuições dessas outras perspectivas. Este trabalho destaca possíveis convergências e complementaridades entre a Análise do Comportamento e estudos sobre aprendizagem social em animais não-humanos, construção de nicho e evolução cultural, visando estimular o diálogo entre pesquisadores de diferentes perspectivas evolucionistas que estudam comportamento social e cultura.

Behavior Analysis may be regarded as a perspective that tackles the evolutionary study of social behavior and culture. Social behavior's characterization in this field and recent researches on metacontingencies and macrocontingencies are contributions in this direction. Other evolutionary perspectives, closest to Biology, have also produced theories and evidences on this theme, but without dialogue with Behavior Analysis, which, by its turn, discusses little this other perspectives' contributions. This paper highlights possible convergences and complementarities between Behavior Analysis and studies on social learning in nonhuman animals, niche construction, and cultural evolution, aiming to enhance dialogues among researchers from different evolutionary perspectives studying social behavior and culture.

El Análisis de la Conducta puede ser vista desde una perspectiva enfocada al estudio evolucionista de la conducta social y cultura. La caracterización de la conducta social en esa área y estudios recientes sobre metacontingencias y macrocontingencias son algunas de sus contribuciones. Otras perspectivas evolucionistas aproximadas a la Biología también han producido diversas teorías y resultados sobre el tema, pero sin interactuar con el Análisis de la Conducta, que al mismo tiempo, poco debata las contribuciones de esas otras perspectivas. Este trabajo destaca posibles convergencias e complementaciones entre el Análisis de la Conducta y los estudios sobre aprendizaje social en animales no humanos, construcción de nicho y evolución cultural, con el objetivo de estimular el dialogo entre investigadores de diferentes perspectivas evolucionistas que estudian la conducta social y la cultura.