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A Microanalysis of the Controlling Stimulus-Response Relations Engendered During the Assessment of Stimulus Overselectivity

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Abstract

In this study, a microanalysis was conducted on the controlling stimulus-response relations engendered during the assessment of stimulus overselectivity in profoundly retarded adults when a two-choice discrete-trial discrimination procedure was used. Stimulus control by the elements of two-component stimulus complexes (S + and S - ) was assessed by presenting all possible juxtapositions of the individual elements on interspersed probe trials. After this assessment, the discrimination was reversed such that the prior S 4 + was the current S — and vice versa. Probe trials were again presented. The results indicated that those participants exhibiting overselective responding did so as a result of their behavior being controlled by a heterogeneous group of controlling stimulus-response relations. Those controlling relations included control by contextual factors, S — stimuli, and stimulus position. Reversing the discrimination resulted in a reversal of responding on most probes juxtaposing S + and S — elements. Responding on some probes did not reverse, thereby suggesting that historical factors may have influenced this performance. As a result of this historical intrusion, two participants, not overselective during the original discrimination, exhibited overselective responding during the reversal. Overall, the present study suggested that stimulus overselectivity may not be a homogeneous phenomenon resulting solely from restricted stimulus control or control by irrelevant stimuli, but instead may be a heterogeneous phenomenon involving complex patterns of stimulus control in which contextual and historical factors may play important roles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA

    Warren K. Bickel

  2. Murdoch Center, USA

    Glenn Richmond, James Bell & Kirby Brown

Authors
  1. Warren K. Bickel
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  2. Glenn Richmond
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  3. James Bell
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  4. Kirby Brown
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Additional information

This paper was prepared while Warren K. Bickel was supported by a research training grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (Da 07209). The authors thank S. T. Higgins for his comments on earlier drafts of this paper. G. Richmond is now at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill and K. Brown is at Lehigh University.

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Bickel, W.K., Richmond, G., Bell, J. et al. A Microanalysis of the Controlling Stimulus-Response Relations Engendered During the Assessment of Stimulus Overselectivity. Psychol Rec 36, 225–238 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394943

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