Abstract
“A most important function of time in psychology is as a matrix for imbedding the behavioral stream” (Galanter, 1984, p. 193). The temporal ordering of behaviors is of importance from the very earliest days of life, and this is apparent in the behavior of the single individual and in the behaviors of interacting individuals, such as a mother and her infant. Temporal order is considered to be expressed in two major ways: (a) in consistencies of behavioral sequences, either in an individual or between individuals; and (b) in the regularity of recurrence of specific behaviors. The first form of ordering is studied generally for the purpose of making cause-effect inferences; study of the latter form is typically motivated by an interest in the rhythmicity of behaviors such as sleep, activity, and even patterns of social interaction. In both instances, sequential analysis is the strategy for study.
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Thoman, E.B. (1986). The Time Domain in Individual Subject Research. In: Valsiner, J. (eds) The Individual Subject and Scientific Psychology. Perspectives on Individual Differences. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2239-7_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2239-7_8
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