THE FAMILY STUDY: CONTINGENCIES AND METACONTINGENCIES

Abstract

The family is an important social group in an individual’s life, because it promotes socialization and allows insertion in more wide social groups, such as the State, Politics, Education and Religion. The concept of metacontingency has been considered by some authors a useful tool to analyze cultural practices and it is constituted by the interlocking behavioral contingencies, the aggregate product originated from these interlocking behavioralcontingencies and the receiving system which selects these cultural practices. This article aims to analyze, from the concepts of contingency and metacontingency, two cultural practices presented in the Brazilian family: the use of aversive parental educational practices and the high valuation or devaluation of some family members. It is observed that for a wider analysis of human behavior it is necessary to consider the transmission and maintenance of cultural practices. This way, the concept of metacontingency can help the practitioner/researcher in the analysis of variables presented in other social groups that can affect the interaction of the members in the Brazilian family.Keywords: Contingencies of reinforcement, metacontingencies, family, aversive educational practices