Advertisement

Distinguishing Units of Analysis, Procedures, and Processes in Cultural Selection: Notes on Metacontingency Terminology

  • Fábio Henrique BaiaEmail author
  • Angelo A. S. Sampaio
Article
First Online:

Abstract

The concept of metacontingency has been used to understand cultural selection and how organisms behave in groups. Despite constant refinements to its definition, the term has still been used to describe either a unit of analysis, a procedure, or even one or more processes. Based mainly on experimental studies, this paper clarifies those elements and proposes terms to deal with them. The culturant is the unit of analysis typically employed in experiments on this matter, and it is fundamental to differentiate descriptive culturants (interlocking behavioral contingencies defined by their environmental effect, i.e., their aggregate product) and functional culturants (classes of interlocking behavioral contingencies under control of cultural consequences). We argue that the term metacontingency should refer to the procedure of arranging a conditional relation between a culturant and a cultural consequence. The processes of cultural selection can be defined based on the effect of environmental events (e.g., cultural consequences) on characteristics (e.g., frequency) of the culturant and can be directly described as changes in culturants (e.g., culturant increase and culturant decrease). This terminology can improve conceptual precision in the area of cultural selection and facilitate clear communication in interpretative or quasi-experimental studies.

Keywords

Metacontingency Culturant Unit of analysis Cultural evolution Reinforcement 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgements

Fábio Henrique Baia would like to thank Universidade de Rio Verde, which supported this project through a Bolsa Pesquisador 3 grant. Both authors contributed equally to the preparation of this paper.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by the authors.

References

  1. Alves, L. F. C., Carvalho Neto, M. B., & Tourinho, E. Z. (2018). Efeitos de consequências culturais análogas a reforçamento negativo sobre a recorrência de culturantes em microculturas de laboratório [Effects of cultural consequences analogous to negative reinforcement on the recurrence of culturants in laboratory microcultures]. Acta Comportamentalia, 26(2), 217–231 Retrieved from http://www.revistas.unam.mx/index.php/acom/article/view/65039.Google Scholar
  2. Andery, M. A. P. A., Micheletto, N., & Sério, T. M. A. de A. (2005). A análise de fenômenos sociais: Esboçando uma proposta para a identificação de contingências entrelaçadas e metacontingências [Analysis of social phenomena: Identifying interlocking contingencies and metacontingencies]. Brazilian Journal of Behavior Analysis, 1(2), 149–164. doi: https://doi.org/10.18542/rebac.v1i2.2167
  3. Angelo, H. V. B. R., & Gioia, P. S. (2015). Aumento abrupto da razão em metacontingências com consequências intermitentes [Abrupt raise of ratio in metacontingencies with intermittent consequences]. Brazilian Journal of Behavior Analysis, 11(2), 170–183.  https://doi.org/10.18542/rebac.v11i2.1942.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Azevedo, R. M. F., & Todorov, J. C. (2016). Controle de estímulos e contraste comportamental em uma tarefa de cooperação [Stimulus control and behavioral contrast in a cooperative task]. Brazilian Journal of Behavior Analysis, 12(2), 95–105.  https://doi.org/10.18542/rebac.v12i2.4402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Azrin, N. H., & Holz, W. C. (1966). Punishment. In W. K. Honing (Ed.), Operant behavior: Areas of research and applications (pp. 380–447). New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts.Google Scholar
  6. Baia, F. H., Azevedo, F. F., Segantini, S. M., Macedo, R. P., & Vasconcelos, L. A. (2015a). Efeitos de diferentes magnitudes de consequências individuais e culturais sobre culturantes [Effects of different magnitudes of individual consequences and cultural consequences on culturants’ selection]. Acta Comportamentalia, 23(3), 257–272 Retrieved from http://www.revistas.unam.mx/index.php/acom/article/view/52057.Google Scholar
  7. Baia, F. H., Azevedo, F. F., Segantini, S. M., Macedo, R. P., & Vasconcelos, L. A. (2015b). O efeito de diferentes tipos de consequências culturais na seleção de culturantes [Effects of different kinds of cultural consequences on cultural selection]. Brazilian Journal of Behavior Analysis, 11(2), 157–169.  https://doi.org/10.18542/rebac.v11i2.1528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Baia, F. H., Lemes, I. G., Biano, A. B. C., Pereira, R. S. C., & Sousa, L. D. (2017a). Efeitos da programação e suspensão de metacontingências sobre operantes e culturantes [Effects of the establishment and withdrawal of metacontingencies upon operants and culturants]. Acta Comportamentalia, 25(4), 495–510 Retrieved from http://www.revistas.unam.mx/index.php/acom/article/view/62674.Google Scholar
  9. Baia, F. H., Neves, S. M. M., Almeida Filho, J. C. R., Melo Junior, I. F., Souza, A. C. G., & Lemes, I. G. (2017b). Ethnogenesis of a Brazilian indigenous community: A behavior analytic interpretation. Behavior and Social Issues, 26, 51–66.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v26i0.6856.
  10. Baia, F. H., Lemes, I. G., Silva, P. F., Biano, A. B. C., & Santos-Baia, R. G. (2019a). Diminuição de culturantes: A supressão de culturantes [Culturant decrease: The suppression of culturants]. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
  11. Baia, F. H., Lemes, I. G., Silva, P. F., Biano, A. B. C., & Santos-Baia, R. G. (2019b). Culturant decrease: Effects of different experimental procedures on decreasing culturant’s frequency. Manuscript in preparation.Google Scholar
  12. Baron, A., & Galizio, M. (2005). Positive and negative reinforcement: Should the distinction be preserved? The Behavior Analyst, 28, 85–98.  https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392107.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  13. Borba, A., Tourinho, E. Z., & Glenn, S. S. (2017). Effects of cultural consequences on the interlocking behavioral contingencies of ethical self-control. The Psychological Record, 67(3), 399–411.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-017-0231-6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Bortoloti, R., & D’Agostino, R. G. (2007). Ações pelo controle reprodutivo e posse responsável de animais domésticos interpretadas à luz do conceito de metacontingência [Actions for reproductive control and responsible ownership of domestic animals interpreted through the concept of metacontingency]. Brazilian Journal of Behavior Analysis, 3(1), 17–28.  https://doi.org/10.18542/rebac.v3i1.821.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Caldas, R. A., & Andery, M. A. P. A. (2017). Investigação experimental em metacontingências e práticas supersticiosas: Um caminho para estudos mais complexos [Experimental investigation in metacontingencies and superstitious practices: A way to more complex studies]. Brazilian Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, 18(3), 4–16 Retrieved from http://www.usp.br/rbtcc/index.php/RBTCC/article/view/918/487.Google Scholar
  16. Carvalho, L. C., Couto, K. C., Gois, N. S., Sandaker, I., & Todorov, J. C. (2017). Evaluating effects of cultural consequences on the variability of interlocking behavioral contingencies and their aggregate products. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 18(1), 84–98.  https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2016.1231003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. Catania, A. C. (2007). Learning (4th interim ed.). Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY: Sloan.Google Scholar
  18. Glenn, S. S. (1986). Metacontingencies in Walden Two. Behavior Analysis & Social Action, 5, 2–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Glenn, S. S. (1991). Process and content in behavioral and cultural phenomena. Behavior and Social Issues, 1(1), 1–14.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v1i2.163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Glenn, S. S. (2003). Operant contingencies and the origin of cultures. In K. A. Lattal & P. N. Chase (Eds.), Behavior theory and philosophy (pp. 223–242). New York, NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. Glenn, S. S. (2004). Individual behavior, culture, and social change. The Behavior Analyst, 27(2), 133–151.  https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393175.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  22. Glenn, S. S. (2010). Metacontingencies, selection and OBM: Comments on Emergence and Metacontingency. Behavior and Social Issues, 19, 79–85.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v19i0.3220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. Glenn, S. S., Ellis, J., & Greenspoon, J. (1992). On the revolutionary nature of the operant as a unit of behavioral selection. American Psychologist, 47(11), 1329–1336.  https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.47.11.1329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Glenn, S. S., Malott, M. E., Andery, M. A. P. A., Benvenuti, M., Houmanfar, R., Sandaker, I., et al. (2016). Toward consistent terminology in a behaviorist approach to cultural analysis. Behavior and Social Issues, 25, 11–27.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v25i0.6634.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Gomes, H. C. R., & Tourinho, E. Z. (2016). Metacontingências de autocontrole ético: Efeitos do aumento da magnitude de reforço [Metacontingencies of ethical self-control: Effects of increase in the magnitude of reinforcement]. Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa, 32(4), e32422.  https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e32422.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Guimarães, T. M. M., Leite, F. L., Carvalho Neto, M. B., Tourinho, E. Z., & Tonneau, F. (2019). The effects of punishment in laboratory microcultures. Behavior and Social Issues. Advance online publication.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-019-00004-z.
  27. Houmanfar, R., Rodrigues, N. J., & Ward, T. A. (2010). Emergence & metacontingency: Points of contact and departure. Behavior and Social Issues, 19, 78–103.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v19i0.3065.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Hunter, C. S. (2012). Analyzing behavioral and cultural selection contingencies. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicologia, 44(1), 43–54 Retrieved from http://www.scielo.org.co/pdf/rlps/v44n1/v44n1a05.pdf.Google Scholar
  29. Johnston, J. M., & Pennypacker, H. S. (1993). Strategies and tactics of behavioral research (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
  30. Krispin, J. V. (2016). What is the metacontingency? Deconstructing claims of emergence and cultural-level selection. Behavior and Social Issues, 25, 28–41.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v25i0.6186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Lamal, P. A. (Ed.). (1991). Behavioral analysis of societies and cultural practices. New York, NY: Hemisphere.Google Scholar
  32. Lattal, K. A., & Lattal, A. D. (2006). And yet . . . : Further comments on distinguishing positive and negative reinforcement. The Behavior Analyst, 29(1), 129–134.  https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392125.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentralGoogle Scholar
  33. Malott, M. E., & Glenn, S. S. (2006). Targets of intervention in cultural and behavioral change. Behavior and Social Issues, 15, 31–56.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v15i1.344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. Marques, N. S., & Tourinho, E. Z. (2015). The selection of cultural units by non-contingent cultural events. Behavior and Social Issues, 24, 126–140.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v24i0.4283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Mattaini, M. (2007). Editorial: Technical language in cultural analysis. Behavior and Social Issues, 16, 1–4.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v16i1.1811.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Michael, J. (1975). Positive and negative reinforcement, a distinction that is no longer necessary: Or better ways to talk about bad things. Behaviorism, 3, 33–45.Google Scholar
  37. Michael, J. (2004). Concepts and principles of behavior analysis. Kalamazoo, MI: Association for Behavior Analysis International.Google Scholar
  38. Morford, Z. H., & Cihon, T. M. (2013). Developing an experimental analysis of metacontingencies: Considerations regarding cooperation in a four-person prisoner’s dilemma game. Behavior and Social Issues, 22, 5–20.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v22i0.4207.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. Ortu, D., Becker, A. M., Woelz, T. A. R., & Glenn, S. S. (2012). An iterated four-player prisoner’s dilemma game with an external selecting agent: A metacontingency experiment. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicologia, 44(1), 111–120 Retrieved from http://www.scielo.org.co/pdf/rlps/v44n1/v44n1a11.pdf.Google Scholar
  40. Pavanelli, S., Leite, F. L., & Tourinho, E. Z. (2014). A “modelagem” de contingências comportamentais entrelaçadas complexas [The “shaping” of complex interlocking behavioral contingencies]. Acta Comportamentalia, 22(4), 425–440 Retrieved from http://www.revistas.unam.mx/index.php/acom/article/view/48983.Google Scholar
  41. Saconatto, A. T., & Andery, M. A. P. A. (2013). Seleção por metacontingências: Um análogo experimental de reforçamento negativo [Selection by metacontingencies: An experimental analog of negative reinforcement]. Interação em Psicologia, 17(1), 1–10.  https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v17i1.26779.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. Sampaio, A. A. S., Araújo, L. A., Gonçalo, M. E., Ferraz, J. C., Alves Filho, A. P., Brito, I. S., et al. (2013). Exploring the role of verbal behavior in a new experimental task for the study of metacontingencies. Behavior and Social Issues, 22, 87–101.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v22i0.4180.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. Skinner, B. F. (1938). The behavior of organisms. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts.Google Scholar
  44. Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. New York, NY: Free Press.Google Scholar
  45. Skinner, B. F. (1981). Selection by consequences. Science, 213(4507), 501–504.  https://doi.org/10.1126/science.7244649.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  46. Soares, P. F. R., Martins, J. C. T., Leite, F. L., & Tourinho, E. Z. (2015). Seleção de contingências comportamentais entrelaçadas por consequências culturais intermitentes [Selection of interlocking behavioral contingencies by intermittent cultural consequences]. Brazilian Journal of Behavior Analysis, 11(2), 111–124. doi:10.18542/rebac.v11i2.3780Google Scholar
  47. Soares, P. F. R., Rocha, A. P. M. C., Guimarães, T. M. M., Leite, F. L., Andery, M. A. P. A., & Tourinho, E. Z. (2018). Effects of verbal and non-verbal cultural consequences on culturants. Behavior and Social Issues, 46, 31–46.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v27i0.8252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  48. Tadaiesky, L. T., & Tourinho, E. Z. (2012). Effects of support consequences and cultural consequences on the selection of interlocking behavioral contingencies. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicologia, 44, 133–147 Retrieved from http://www.scielo.org.co/pdf/rlps/v44n1/v44n1a13.pdf.Google Scholar
  49. Todorov, J. C. (1987). A constituição como metacontingência [The constitution as metacontingency]. Psicologia: Ciência e Profissão, 7(1), 9–13.  https://doi.org/10.1590/S1414-98931987000100003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  50. Todorov, J. C. (2012). Contingências de seleção cultural [Contingencies of cultural selection]. Brazilian Journal of Behavior Analysis, 8(2), 49–59.  https://doi.org/10.18542/rebac.v8i2.1315.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  51. Toledo, T. G. N., & Benvenuti, M. F. L. (2015). Efeito da exigência de desempenhos entrelaçados sobre linha de base em esquemas simples de reforço [Effects of a demand for interlocking performances over baseline in simple schedules of reinforcement]. Brazilian Journal of Behavior Analysis, 11(2), 181–194.  https://doi.org/10.18542/rebac.v11i2.1971.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. Toledo, T. F. N., Benvenuti, M. F. L., Sampaio, A. A. S., Marques, N. S., Cabral, P. A. A., de Araújo, L. A. S., et al. (2015). Free Culturant: A software for the experimental study of behavioral and cultural selection. Psychology & Neuroscience, 8(3), 366–384.  https://doi.org/10.1037/pne0000016.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  53. Tourinho, E. Z. (2013). Cultural consequences and interlocking behavioral contingencies: Selection at the cultural level. Behavior and Philosophy, 41, 60–69.Google Scholar
  54. Tourinho, E. Z., & Vichi, C. (2012). Behavioral-analytic research of cultural selection and the complexity of cultural phenomena. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicologia, 44, 169–179 Retrieved from http://www.scielo.org.co/pdf/rlps/v44n1/v44n1a16.pdf.Google Scholar
  55. Vasconcelos, I. G., & Todorov, J. C. (2015). Experimental analysis of the behavior of persons in groups: Selection of an aggregate product in a metacontingency. Behavior and Social Issues, 24, 111–125.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v24i0.5424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  56. Vichi, C., Andery, M. A. P. A., & Glenn, S. S. (2009). A metacontingency experiment: Effects of contingent consequences on patterns of interlocking contingencies of reinforcement. Behavior and Social Issues, 18, 41–57.  https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v18i1.2292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  57. Zilio, D. (2019). On the function of science: An overview of 30 years of publications on metacontingency. Behavior and Social Issues. Advance online publication.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-019-00006-x.

Copyright information

© Association for Behavior Analysis International 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Laboratório de Psicologia Experimental (LAPEX), Fazendas Fontes do SaberUniversidade de Rio VerdeRio VerdeBrazil
  2. 2.Colegiado de PsicologiaUniversidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco (Univasf)PetrolinaBrazil

Personalised recommendations

Cite article

Buy options