The transfer of specific and general consequential functions through simple and conditional equivalence relations

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Learning and Conditioning
• Equivalence Relations

Background:

• Equivalence relations are learned associations between stimuli that allow for the transfer of properties.
• Understanding how behavioral functions, such as reinforcement and punishment, transfer is crucial for explaining complex learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the transfer of consequential functions (reinforcement and punishment) through established equivalence relations.
• To determine if these functions generalize to novel stimuli within the equivalence classes.

Main Methods:

• Arbitrary visual forms were used to establish three-member equivalence classes via matching-to-sample training.
• Comparison stimuli were conditioned with reinforcement or punishment functions using verbal feedback during a sorting task.
• Transfer of consequential functions was tested with and without explicit equivalence testing, and with novel stimuli.

Main Results:

• Consequential functions transferred through established equivalence classes for 8 out of 9 subjects without additional training.
• Transfer of function occurred even before formal equivalence testing in some subjects.
• Novel stimuli also acquired consequential functions based on their class membership, with effects dependent on specific function transfer.

Conclusions:

• Learned equivalence relations facilitate the transfer of consequential functions, demonstrating a powerful associative learning mechanism.
• Contextual cues can modulate the valence of consequential functions within equivalence classes.
• Equivalence training establishes specific consequential functions that can generalize to novel stimuli within the learned classes.