SOBRE TERMOS

Abstract

Along the years, the definition and concept of metacontingency have been changed, but we still can define metacontingency, generally as, the selection by cultural consequences of recurrent interlocked behavioral contingencies (IBC), which in turn generate an aggregate product (AP). The term culturant has been used to define the IBC-AP unit, to differentiate it from the operant in individual contingency. If we assume that there is a correspondence between both contingencies, we should also assume that all satellite variables which affect or are affected by the individual contingency should also affect the metacontingency. An example on fishing suggests variables which can foster the occurrence of some cultural behaviors during off-season periods. I propose to call these activities adjunctural behaviors to differentiate them from adjunctive behaviors in individual contingencies. Key words: contingency, metacontingency, cultural consequences, culturant, adjunctural behavior.