Resistance to change, of behavior and of theory
Keep using behavioral momentum ideas to explain why problem behavior returns, even if the data are messy.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Craig (2023) wrote a theory paper, not an experiment.
He asked: Should we still use behavioral momentum theory when new data clash with it?
His answer: Yes. Keep the theory, but use it as a practical lens, not a perfect law.
What they found
The paper finds cracks in momentum theory. Some new data do not fit.
Still, the theory helps explain why problem behavior keeps returning after treatment.
Craig says the cracks are reasons to refine, not discard, the lens.
How this fits with other research
Nasr et al. (2000) saw resistance as a tug-of-war between now-versus-later pay-offs. Craig keeps the focus on resistance but swaps the mechanism for momentum rules.
Pear et al. (1984) faced the same choice with the operant-respondent split. They also kept the frame and patched the holes. Craig repeats that move for momentum.
Sanabria (2020) defended internal-clock models under fire. The pattern is clear: good heuristics survive even when data chip the paint.
Why it matters
You can still use momentum language in the clinic. Talk about how strong reinforcement histories make problem behavior ‘heavy’ and harder to move.
When data do not fit, treat the theory like a map, not a straitjacket. Adjust, don’t trash.
This mindset keeps your interventions flexible and your explanations clear for staff and parents.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The persistence of operant behavior when disrupted tends to be positively related to how often reinforcers were delivered in the past. Behavioral momentum theory describes this finding as the outcome of Pavlovian processes. That is, the relation between discriminative stimuli and reinforcers that were delivered in their presence strengthens behavior, thereby making it more likely to persist. If only the story were that simple. A growing number of findings challenge the basic tenets of behavioral momentum theory. Some even call into question whether Pavlovian relations contribute to persistence in the first place. In this paper, I will review behavioral momentum theory and some of the data that have been problematic for the theory. I will argue that despite these very real challenges, the theory provides important utility not only to basic analyses of response persistence but also to clinical interventions directed at long-term reductions in problem behavior. It, for example, has set the stage for the development of alternative conceptual analyses of resistance to change, two of which will be highlighted for readers. Moreover, behavioral momentum theory may tell us something important about the reasons it continues to have an influence on the field, despite the challenging data that deter it.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 2023 · doi:10.1002/jeab.875