Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS AND REINFORCEMENT: AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH

1993; Wiley; Volume: 60; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1901/jeab.1993.60-105

1938-3711

William Timberlake,

Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Most traditional conceptions of reinforcement are based on a simple causal model in which responding is strengthened by the presentation of a reinforcer. I argue that reinforcement is better viewed as the outcome of constraint of a functioning causal system comprised of multiple interrelated causal sequences, complex linkages between causes and effects, and a set of initial conditions. Using a simplified system conception of the reinforcement situation, I review the similarities and drawbacks of traditional reinforcement models and analyze the recent contributions of cognitive, regulatory, and ecological approaches. Finally, I show how the concept of behavior systems can begin to incorporate both traditional and recent conceptions of reinforcement in an integrative approach.