The Theory of Interests and the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

«It is possible to change from the abstract analysis of the theory of interests to the experimental (dynamic) analysis of behavior (founded on functions) by establishing a correspondence between the terms denoting interests and the terms denoting operant behaviors, in their different specifications given by the instrumental behavior (R_S) and consummatory behavior (R_C):

I_F^A.1   ↔   R_C^A.1

I_F^B.1   ↔   R_C^B.1

I_S^A.1   ↔   R_S^A.1

I_S^B.1   ↔   R_S^B.1»

(A new paradigm for the integration of the social sciences, p. 336)

«The instrumentality relation between two interests of the same subject corresponds to the process of secondary reinforcement. The mechanism of secondary reinforcement explicates how an instrumental interest arises in the subject’s field in relation to a final interest.

We make a final interest I_F¹ correspond to the behavior R_C¹ and the satisfaction of I_F¹ to the relation R_C¹ → S⁺.

Then, we make an instrumental interest I_S¹ correspond to the behavior R_S¹ and the satisfaction of I_S¹ to the relation R_S¹ → S^D. The secondary reinforcement implies an instrumentality relation between I_F¹ and I_S¹, which has to be explicated by relating the satisfaction of I_F¹ with the satisfaction of I_S¹.» IT

(Processo di apprendimento e strutture ideologiche [Learning process and ideological structures], p. 25)

«In the case of conjunct interrelation there are the following social reinforcement relations:

(a) for subject A, R_S^A.1 is the behavior (corresponding to the interest I_S^A.1) reinforced by the behavior R_S^B.1 (corresponding to the interest I_S^B.1) of subject B. The latter behavior is a discriminative stimulus in the presence of which A realizes the consummatory behavior R_C^A.1, which is reinforced by S⁺ (i.e., A satisfies its interest I_F^A.1);

(b) for subject B, R_S^B.1 is the behavior (corresponding to the interest I_S^B.1) reinforced by the behavior R_S^A.1 (corresponding to the interest I_S^A.1) of subject A. The latter behavior is a discriminative stimulus in the presence of which B realizes the consummatory behavior R_C^B.1, which is reinforced by S⁺ (i.e., B satisfies its interest I_F^B.1). It is worth noting that both R_C^A.1   and R_C^B.1 are reinforced by the same reinforcer S⁺, since the interests I_F^A.1 and I_F^B.1 are positively involved.

On that account, the reciprocal complementarity of the two subsets of instrumental interests belonging to different fields of interests, which characterizes positive involvement, is specified on the experimental level by the reciprocal positive reinforcement of the corresponding sequences of operant behaviors.

(A new paradigm for the integration of the social sciences, pp. 336-337)

«In the case of disjunct interrelation there are the following social reinforcement relations:

(a) for subject A, R_S^A.1 is the behavior (corresponding to the interest I_S^A.1) reinforced by the absence of behavior R_S^B.1 (corresponding to the interest I_S^B.1) of subject B. The absence of R_S^B.1 is a discriminative stimulus in the presence of which A realizes the consummatory behavior R_C^A.1, which is reinforced by S⁺ (i.e., A satisfies its interest I_F^A.1);

(b) for subject B, R_S^B.1 is the behavior (corresponding to the interest I_S^B.1) reinforced by the absence of behavior R_S^A.1 (corresponding to the interest I_S^A.1) of subject A. The absence of behavior R_S^A.1 is a discriminative stimulus in the presence of which B realizes the consummatory behavior R_C^B.1, which is reinforced by S⁺ (i.e., B satisfies its interest I_F^B.1).

In the case of disjunct interrelation only one of the two subjects can realize an instrumental behavior and thence a consummatory behavior, i.e., only one of the two subjects can satisfy its own interest. In fact, interests I_F^A.1 and I_F^B.1 are negatively involved. This implies that only one of the two interests can be satisfied and therefore only the behavioral sequence corresponding to the interest which is satisfied can be realized.»

(A new paradigm for the integration of the social sciences, pp. 337-338)

We establish a correspondence between the terms denoting interests and as many terms denoting (operant) behaviors to translate the abstract structural analysis of power into a dynamic analysis:

I_F^B.1   ↔   R_C^B.1

I_F^C.1   ↔   R_C^C.1

I_F^C.2   ↔   R_C^C.2

I_S^B.1   ↔   R_S^B.1

I_S^C.1   ↔   R_S^C.1

I_S^C.2   ↔   R_S^C.2

Diagram no. 7 illustrates the social reinforcement relations between the behaviors of subject B (who belongs to the social group exercising power) and subject C (a potential deviant), which correspond to positive involvement mediated by power.

«In (a) R_S^B.1 is the behavior (response) of subject B (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^B.1) reinforced by subject C’s behavior R_S^C.2. The latter is a discriminative stimulus in the presence of which subject B carries out the behavior R_C^B.1 reinforced by S⁺ (i.e., B satisfies the final interest I_F^B.1).

In (b) R_S^C.2 is the behavior (response) of subject C (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^C.2) reinforced by subject B’s behavior R_S^B.1. The latter is a discriminative stimulus in the presence of which subject C carries out the behavior R_C^C.2 reinforced by S⁺ (i.e., C satisfies the final interest I_F^C.2). The fact that the I_F^B.1 and IFC.2 are considered socially as two positively involved interests, i.e., that there is a social positive involvement between I_F^B.1 and I_F^C.2 implies that the behavior of subject B (who carries out the operant sequence R_S^B.1 → R_C^B.1), and particularly the behavior R_S^B.1, bars the operant sequence R_S^C.1→R_C^C.1 which subject C should carry out.» IT

(Concorrenza, collettivismo e pianificazione [Competition, collectivism and planning], pp. 21-22)

Diagram no. 8 «illustrates how subject B’s behavior R_S^B.1 (which is positively reinforced by the absence of subject C’s behavior R_S^C.1) is a negative secondary reinforcer for subject C, i.e., a discriminative stimulus reinforcing subject C’s behavior R_S^C.x which is incompatible with the operant sequence R_S^C.1 → R_F^C.1.

Subject C’s behavior R_S^C.x and the operant sequence R_S^C.x → R_F^C.x is an avoidance behavior against R_S^{B.1 (D)} and is reinforced by S^– being removed (i.e., by ~S^–).

R_S^{B.1 (D)} is for subject C the anticipation of the non-satisfaction of I_F^C.2, that is, the impossibility for C to carry out the sequence R_S^C.2  → R_F^C.2, if C does not renounce to satisfy I_F^C.2, i.e., if C does not renounce to carry out the operant sequence R_S^C.1  → R_F^C.1.

Therefore, in the presence of R_S^{B.1 (D)} subject C carries out an avoidance behavior R_S^C.x precisely to avoid being prevented from carrying out the operant sequence R_S^C.2  → R_F^C.2, given that the intensity level of interest I_F^C.2, ɩ_C.2, is higher than the intensity level of interest I_F^C.1, ɩ_C.1; thus, subject C prefers not to satisfy the latter.» IT

(Concorrenza, collettivismo e pianificazione [Competition, collectivism and planning], p. 22)

We establish a correspondence between the terms denoting interests and as many terms denoting (operant) behaviors to translate the abstract structural analysis of exchange into a dynamic analysis:

I_F^A.2   ↔   R_C^A.2

I_F^B.2   ↔   R_C^B.2

I_S^A.1   ↔   R_S^A.1

I_S^A.2   ↔   R_S^A.2

I_S^B.1   ↔   R_S^B.1

I_S^B.2   ↔   R_S^B.2

Diagram no. 13 illustrates the social reinforcement relations between subject A’s and subject B’s behaviors, which correspond to a positive involvement mediated by the exchange.

«In (a) R_S^A.2 is subject A’s behavior (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^A.2) reinforced by the absence of subject B’s behavior R_S^B.1 (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^B.1). The absence of R_S^B.1 is a discriminative stimulus under which subject A carries out the consummatory behavior R_S^A.2 reinforced by S⁺.

Given that two pairs of interests are negatively involved in the exchange interaction, in (b), the reinforcement relations corresponding to the second pair of negatively involved interests are shown. Here, R_S^B.2 is B’s behavior (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^B.2) reinforced by the absence of A’s behavior R_S^A.1 (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^A.1). The absence of R_S^A.1 is a discriminative stimulus under which subject B carries out the behavior R_C^B.2 reinforced by S⁺.

In (c), R_S^A.2 is subject A’s behavior (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^A.2) reinforced by subject B’s behavior R_S^B.2 (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^B.2). The latter is a discriminative stimulus under which subject A carries out the behavior R_C^A.2 reinforced by S⁺ (i.e., A satisfies the final interest I_F^A.2).

In (d), R_S^B.2 is subject B’s behavior (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^B.2) reinforced by subject A’s behavior R_S^A.2 (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^A.2). The latter is a discriminative stimulus under which subject B carries out the behavior R_C^B.2 reinforced by S⁺ (i.e., B satisfies the final interest I_F^B.2).» IT

(Concorrenza, collettivismo e pianificazione [Competition, collectivism and planning], pp. 28-29)

We establish a correspondence between the terms denoting interests and as many terms denoting (operant) behaviors to translate the abstract structural analysis of competition into a dynamic analysis:

I_S^A.1   ↔   R_S^A.1

I_S^A.2   ↔   R_S^A.2

I_S^B.1   ↔   R_S^B.1

I_S^B.1′   ↔   R_S^B.1′

I_S^B.2   ↔   R_S^B.2

I_S^C.1   ↔   R_S^C.1

I_S^C.2   ↔   R_S^C.2

I_F^A.2   ↔   R_C^A.2

I_F^B.2   ↔   R_C^B.2

I_F^C.1   ↔   R_C^C.1

I_F^C.2   ↔   R_C^C.2

Diagram no. 16 illustrates (in a, b, c, d) the social reinforcement relations between the producer involved in the exchange (subject A) and the consumer (subject B).

«In (a), R_S^B.2 is subject B’s behavior (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^B.2) positively reinforced by the absence of subject A’s behavior R_S^A.1 (corresponding to the instrumental interest I_S^A.1). The absence of R_S^A.1 (~R_S^A.1) is a discriminative stimulus under which subject B carries out the consummatory behavior R_C^B.2 reinforced by S⁺ (i.e., B satisfies the final interest I_F^B.2).

In (b), the reinforcement schema corresponding to the exchange between the two subjects, A and B, is shown. The reinforcement schema in (a) corresponds to the disjunct interrelation between I_S^A.1 and I_S^B.2; the reinforcement schema in (b) corresponds to the disjunct interrelation between I_S^A.2 and I_S^B.1. Here, R_S^A.2 is A’s behavior positively reinforced by the absence of B’s behavior R_S^B.1. The absence of R_S^B.1 (~R_S^B.1) is a discriminative stimulus under which subject A carries out the consummatory behavior R_C^A.2 reinforced by S⁺ (i.e., A satisfies the final interest I_F^A.2).

In (c) and (d), two reinforcement schemata are shown, corresponding to the conjunct interrelation between A’s interest I_S^A.2 and B’s interest I_S^B.2, resulting from the fact that A’s final interest I_F^A.2 and B’s final interest I_F^B.2, which are both satisfied, are positively involved because of exchange. Thus, in (c) R_S^B.2 is B’s behavior positively reinforced by A’s behavior R_S^A.2; the latter is a discriminative stimulus under which B carries out the behavior R_C^B.2 reinforced by S⁺. Given that every conjunct interrelation between two interests always corresponds to two reciprocal reinforcement schemata, in (d) R_S^A.2 is A’s behavior positively reinforced by B’s behavior R_S^B.2; the latter is a discriminative stimulus under which A carries out R_C^A.2 reinforced by S⁺.» IT

(Concorrenza, collettivismo e pianificazione [Competition, collectivism and planning], pp. 34-36)

Let us continue with the analysis of Diagram no. 16 .

In (e) and (f), two reinforcement schemata are shown, corresponding to the disjunct interrelation typical of the relation between B (which symbolizes the consumer who exchanges with producer A) and C (which symbolizes the producer excluded from the exchange).

Given that every disjunct interrelation between two interests always corresponds to only one reinforcement schema, in (e) the reinforcement schema corresponding to the disjunct interrelation between B’s interest I_S^B.2 and C’s interest I_S^C.1 is shown, while in (f) the reinforcement schema corresponding to the disjunct interrelation between C’s interest I_S^C.2 and B’s interest I_S^B.1′is shown. Therefore, in (e) R_S^B.2 is B’s instrumental behavior positively reinforced by the absence of C’s instrumental behavior R_S^C.1; the absence of R_S^C.1 (~R_S^C.1) is a discriminative stimulus under which B carries out a consummatory behavior R_C^B.2 reinforced by S+. In (f) R_S^C.2 is C’s behavior positively reinforced by the absence of B’s behavior R_S^B.1′; the absence of R_S^B.1′ (~R_S^B.1′) is a discriminative stimulus under which C carries out R_C^C.2 reinforced by S_x⁺ (the latter differs from the reinforcer S⁺ in the previous schemata).

In (g) and (h), two reinforcement schemata corresponding to the two disjunct interrelations characterizing the relation between A (which symbolizes the producer who exchanges with consumer B) and C (which symbolizes the producer excluded from the exchange) are shown.

As seen, two disjunct interactions exist between producers: one between A’s interest I_S^A.1 and C’s interest I_S^C.1; the other between A’s interest I_S^A.2 and C’s interest I_S^C.2.

Thus, in (g) R_S^A.2 is A’s behavior positively reinforced by the absence of C’s behavior R_S^C.2; the absence of R_S^C.2 (~R_S^C.2) is a discriminative stimulus under which A carries out R_C^C.2 reinforced by S+. In (h), R_S^C.1 is C’s behavior positively reinforced by the absence of A’s behavior R_S^A.1; the absence of R_S^A.1 (~R_S^A.1) is a discriminative stimulus under which C carries out R_C^C.1 reinforced by S_x⁺ (the latter differs from the reinforcer S⁺ that appears in the previous schema).» IT

(Concorrenza, collettivismo e pianificazione [Competition, collectivism and planning], pp. 36-37)