Michael, J., & Clark, J. W. (2001).
A few minor suggestions.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
75, 354-357.
We agree with almost all of the analysis in this excellent
presentation of the molecular view of avoidance behavior. A few
suggestions are made as follows: Referring to response-generated
stimuli as "readily observable" seems not quite right
for the kinesthetic components of such stimuli, although their
scientific legitimacy is not questioned. Interpreting
response-generated stimuli as a form of positive reinforcement is
contested, and an alternative interpretation is offered. A
possibly simpler interpretation of the Sidman (1962) two-lever
experiment is suggested. We question Dinsmoor’s (2001)
explanation for warning stimuli not being avoided, except for the
reference to the weakness of third-order conditioning effects. A
final question is raised regarding the nature of the variables
that are responsible for the momentary evocation of the avoidance
response.
Key words: response-generated stimuli, stimulus-change decrement, stimulus
translation, evocative effect