A quantitative behavioral model of developmental stage based upon the model of hierarchical complexity.

Michael Lamport Commons; Patrice Marie Miller

doi:10.1037/h0099940

A quantitative behavioral model of developmental stage based upon the model of hierarchical complexity.

The Behavior Analyst Today ◽

10.1037/h0099940 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 222-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Michael Lamport Commons ◽

Patrice Marie Miller

Keyword(s):

Developmental Stage ◽

Behavioral Model ◽

Hierarchical Complexity

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Comparisons of Animal “Smart” Using The First Four Stages of the Model of Hierarchical Complexity

International Journal of Comparative Psychology ◽

10.46867/ijcp.2020.33.02.01 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 ◽

Author(s):

Mansi J. Shah ◽

Michael L. Commons ◽

William J. Harrigan

Keyword(s):

Operant Conditioning ◽

Motor Task ◽

Comparative Psychology ◽

Behavioral Model ◽

Ordinal Scale ◽

Future Research ◽

Respondent Conditioning ◽

Hierarchical Complexity ◽

And Performance ◽

Using Data

The Model of Hierarchical Complexity is a behavioral model of development and evolution of the complexity of behavior. It is based on task analysis. Tasks are ordered in terms of their hierarchical complexity, which is an ordinal scale that measures difficulty. The hierarchical difficulty of tasks is categorized as the order of hierarchical complexity. Successful performance on a task is called the behavioral stage. This model can be applied to non-human animals, and humans. Using data from some of the simplest animals and also somewhat more complex ones, this analysis describes the four lowest behavioral stages and illustrate them using the behaviors of a range of simple organisms. For example, Stage 1 tasks, and performance on them, are addressed with automatic unconditioned responses. Behavior at this Stage includes sensing, tropisms, habituation and, other automatic behaviors. Single cell organisms operate at this Stage. Stage 2 tasks include these earlier behaviors, but also include respondent conditioning but not operant conditioning. Animals such as some simple invertebrates have shown respondent conditioning, but not operant conditioning. Stage 3 tasks coordinate three instances of these earlier tasks to make possible operant conditioning. These stage 3 performances are similar to those of some invertebrates and also insects. Stage 4 tasks organisms coordinate 2 or more circular sensory-motor task actions into a superordinate “concept”. This explanation of the early stages of the Model of Hierarchical Complexity may help future research in animal behavior, and comparative psychology.

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