Skip to main content
Log in

Psychological Events and Constructs: An Alliance with Smith

  • In Response
  • Published:
The Psychological Record Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The distinction between constructs and events is often overlooked in the sciences, as evidenced by a number of long-standing confusions of the former with the latter. The authors propose that the distinction between constructs and events is particularly important in the science of psychology, as psychological events have a number of unique characteristics that make this confusion more likely than is the case in other sciences. The nature of psychological events and the constructs derived from them are described in this article, along with the value of maintaining the distinction between them for the science of psychology and its relations with other sciences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • HAYES, L. J. (1992). The psychological present. The Behavior Analyst, 15, 139–145.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • HAYES, L. J., ADAMS, M. A., & Dixon, M. R. (1997). Causal constructs and conceptual confusions. The Psychological Record, 46, 97–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KANTOR, J. R. (1924). Principles of psychology (Vol. 1). Chicago: Principia Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • KANTOR, J. R. (1926). Principles of psychology (Vol. 2). Chicago: Principia Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • KANTOR, J. R. (1947). Problems of physiological psychology. Bloomington, IN: Principia Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • KANTOR, J. R. (1950). Psychology and logic (Vol. 2). Chicago: Principia Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • KANTOR, J. R. (1953). The logic of modern science. Chicago: Principia Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • KANTOR, J. R. (1957). Events and constructs in the science of psychology: Philosophy—Banished and recalled. The Psychological Record, 7, 55–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KANTOR, J. R. (1958). Interbehavioral psychology. Chicago: Principia Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • KANTOR, J. R. (1970). An analysis of the experimental analysis of behavior (TEAB). Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 13, 101–108.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • MORRIS, E. K. (1992). The aim, progress, and evolution of behavior analysis. The Behavior Analyst, 15, 3–29.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • PARROTT, L. J. (1986). On the role of postulation in the analysis of inapparent events. In H. W. Reese & L. J. Parrott (Eds.), Behavior science: Philosophical, methodological, and empirical advances (pp. 35–60). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • PARROTT, L. J. (1987). On the distinction between setting events and stimuli. Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin, 5, 6–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • SKINNER, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. New York: MacMillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • SKINNER, B. F. (1957). Verbal behavior. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • SKINNER, B. F. (1969). Contingencies of reinforcement. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • SKINNER, B. F. (1971). Beyond freedom and dignity. New York: Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • SKINNER, B. F. (1974). About behaviorism. New York: Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • SMITH, N. W. (2007). Events and constructs. The Psychological Record, 57, 169–186.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mitch J. Fryling.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fryling, M.J., Hayes, L.J. Psychological Events and Constructs: An Alliance with Smith. Psychol Rec 59, 133–141 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395653

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395653

Navigation