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.
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I thank Carol Pilgrim, Jefferson Singer, and the anonymous reviewers for their comments on earlier versions of this article.
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Vyse, S. Stability over time: Is behavior analysis a trait psychology?. BEHAV ANALYST 27, 43–53 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392091
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392091