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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear

Published on: August 24, 2012

Forgetting the lessons of history.

The Behavior Analyst

|April 6, 2012

Summary

Behavioral history, or conditioning history, is an underdeveloped area in behavior analysis. Further research into conditioning history could illuminate behavioral differences and aid clinical applications.

Area of Science:

Behavioral Science
Psychology

Background:

Behavior analytic research predominantly focuses on current environmental contingencies.
The study of conditioning history, or behavioral history, remains underdeveloped in the literature.
Existing research on conditioning history is limited, with notable early work by Weiner (1964, 1969) and some related studies on drug effects.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the underdevelopment of "behavioral history" or "conditioning history" as a research area within behavior analysis.
To propose the significance of empirical work on history effects.
To suggest potential implications of conditioning history research.

Main Methods:

This abstract does not detail specific methods but reviews existing literature and proposes future research directions.

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Disrupting Reconsolidation of Fear Memory in Humans by a Noradrenergic β-Blocker

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A Prediction Error-driven Retrieval Procedure for Destabilizing and Rewriting Maladaptive Reward Memories in Hazardous Drinkers

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It references historical studies (Weiner, 1964, 1969) and related research on drug effects.

Main Results:

The primary finding is the limited empirical investigation into conditioning history within behavior analysis.
The abstract identifies a gap in the literature concerning the effects of past learning experiences on current behavior.

Conclusions:

Further empirical research on conditioning history is needed.
Understanding conditioning history has potential implications for explaining human-nonhuman behavioral differences.
Clinical applications, particularly for treatment-resistant clients, could benefit from this research.
Theoretical assumptions in behavior analysis may be refined through the study of history effects.