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Behavioral variability in an evolutionary theory of behavior dynamics.

Andrei Popa1, J J McDowell2

  • 1Department of Psychology, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA.

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|March 23, 2016
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Summary

Behavioral variability increases with mutation rate in evolutionary models. Environmental factors like reinforcer rates and magnitudes interact with mutation, influencing behavioral patterns and offering insights into biological systems.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral science
  • Evolutionary theory
  • Computational modeling

Background:

  • McDowell's evolutionary theory models behavior as evolving populations under environmental selection.
  • Darwinian processes (selection, recombination, mutation) drive generational change.
  • Emergent behavioral patterns can be compared to biological organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of high mutation rates on behavioral variability.
  • To examine the influence of varying environmental reinforcer rates and magnitudes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an evolutionary theory of behavior dynamics model.
  • Simulated populations of behaviors evolving via selection, recombination, and mutation.
  • Manipulated mutation rates, reinforcer rates, and reinforcer magnitudes.

Main Results:

  • Behavioral variability significantly increased with higher mutation rates.
  • High reinforcer rates and magnitudes attenuated the effects of mutation.
  • Low reinforcer rates and magnitudes amplified the effects of mutation.

Conclusions:

  • Findings align with live-organism research on behavioral variability.
  • Interactions between independent variables (mutation, reinforcers) were observed (equifinality).
  • Implications for understanding variability, undermatching, and the default mode network.