Momentum, Matching Law, Imitation, Observational Learning, and Emergent Relations
Key Takeaways
- Behavioral momentum describes persistence of behavior under disruption as a function of the reinforcement context.
- Matching law predicts allocation of behavior across alternatives based on relative reinforcement.
- Imitation requires a model and a response with formal similarity and close temporal relation to the model.
- Observational learning and emergent relations explain new performance that occurs without direct training of every response.
Behavioral Momentum
Behavioral momentum refers to the persistence of behavior when conditions disrupt responding. A response occurring in a context with a dense history of reinforcement may be more resistant to change than a similar response in a leaner context. The concept is about resistance to disruption, not simply high response rate.
In exam scenarios, look for disruption tests: extinction, distraction, pre-session access, increased effort, or schedule thinning. If behavior persists more in one stimulus context because that context has richer reinforcement history, behavioral momentum is a good fit.
Matching Law
Matching law describes how behavior is allocated across concurrent alternatives as a function of relative reinforcement. If one response option produces more frequent, higher quality, lower effort, or quicker reinforcement, more behavior tends to shift there.
A learner may allocate more requests to Staff A than Staff B if Staff A provides reinforcement more often or faster. The principle does not say behavior always matches perfectly. Bias, effort, delay, magnitude, and schedule differences can affect allocation.
Imitation and Observational Learning
Imitation occurs when a modeled response evokes a similar response. The imitative response has formal similarity to the model and occurs soon after the model. Copying a teacher's clap after seeing the teacher clap is imitation.
Observational learning is broader. A learner acquires new behavior or changes future responding after watching another person's behavior and consequences. If a peer receives praise for putting materials away and the observer later puts materials away without direct prompting, observational learning may be involved.
Emergent Relations
Emergent relations occur when untrained relations appear after other relations are taught. In stimulus equivalence, reflexivity, symmetry, and transitivity are common tests. If A-B and B-C are trained, selecting C when shown A may show a derived relation rather than direct training.
| Concept | Main cue |
|---|---|
| Momentum | Persistence under disruption |
| Matching | Allocation across alternatives |
| Imitation | Immediate similar response after a model |
| Observational learning | Learning after observing others and consequences |
| Emergent relations | Untrained relations after trained relations |
Two work areas have the same response requirement. One area has a long history of frequent reinforcement. During extinction, behavior persists longer in that area. Which principle best explains this?
A client can request assistance from either of two staff members. Requests shift toward the staff member who responds faster and more often. Which principle is most relevant?
A learner is directly taught to match spoken word cat to a picture of a cat and the picture to the printed word CAT. Later, without direct teaching, the learner matches spoken cat to printed CAT. What is this best example of?