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Contingency and Behavior Analysis

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Abstract

The concept of contingency is central to theoretical discussions of learned behavior and in the application of learning research to problems of social significance. This paper reviews three aspects of the contingency concept as it has been developed by behavior analysts. The first is the empirical analysis of contingency through experimental studies of both human and nonhuman behavior. The second is the synthesis of experimental studies in theoretical and conceptual frameworks to yield a more general account of contingency and to integrate the concept with other behavioral processes. The third aspect is one of practical considerations in the application of the contingency concept in both laboratory and applied settings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506-6040, USA

    Kennon A. Lattal

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Correspondence to Kennon A. Lattal.

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This article is based on the 1994 Presidential Address at the 20th annual convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis, held in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Lattal, K.A. Contingency and Behavior Analysis. BEHAV ANALYST 18, 209–224 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392709

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