A TRADITIONAL ACCOUNT OF STIMULUS EQUIVALENCE

A three-term contigency account of stimulus equivalence is presented. The performances of stimulus equivalence are interpreted as instances of generalized performances. It is assumed that the generalized perfor mances are caused by reinforcement histories in the usual environments of humans. The present account differs from the account proposed by H ayes and Hayes (1989) with regard to the nature of the responding brou ght about by the reinforcement histories and with regard to the role o f context.