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The Molar View of Behavior and Its Usefulness in Behavior Analysis
The Molar View of Behavior and Its Usefulness in Behavior Analysis
The molar view of behavior contrasts with the older, molecular view. The difference is
paradigmatic, not theoretical. No experiment can decide between them, because they interpret all
the same phenomena, but in different terms. The molecular view relies on the concepts of discrete,
momentary events and contiguity between them, whereas the molar view relies on the concepts of
temporally extended patterns of activity and correlations. When dealing with phenomena such as
avoidance, rule-governed behavior, and choice, the molar view has the advantage that it requires no
appeal to hypothetical constructs. The molecular view always appeals to hypothetical constructs to
provide immediate reinforcers and stimuli when none are apparent. As a result, the explanations
offered by the molar view are straightforward and concrete, whereas those offered by the molecular
view are awkward and implausible. The usefulness of the molar view for applied behavior analysis
lies in the flexibility and conceptual power it provides for talking about behavior and contingencies
This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.
over time.
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The molar view of behavior is relatively momentary events and causes when none are
new. Although its origins may be traced back apparent, whereas the molar view relies on
earlier, its first partial articulation was by Baum extended activities and extended causation,
and Rachlin (1969), in a paper called “Choice as avoiding postulation of hypothetical constructs.
time allocation.” It was presented more fully in Replacing the concept of momentary
a paper by Baum (1973), “The correlation-based response with the concept of extended activity
law of effect.” Rachlin (1994) offered a book- requires one to become familiar with thinking in
length presentation, and Baum (2002) elaborated more continuous terms—that is, in terms of
on his 1973 paper in another paper, “From extended patterns that cannot be seen at a
molecular to molar: A paradigm shift in moment in time. A familiar example is the
behavior analysis” and some papers in-between concept of probability. An unbiased coin, when
(Baum, 1995a; 1997). flipped, comes up heads with a probability of
The molar view contrasts with an older view that .50. What does this mean? On any particular
behavior analysis inherited from nineteenth- flip, the coin comes up heads or tails; nothing
century psychology. I call this older view more can be observed. Only for a long series of
“molecular,” because it is based on the notion flips can one observe the probability of .50. If
explanations of behavior may be constructed by one says that on a particular flip the probability
thinking of small discrete units being joined is .50, all one means is that in a long series of
together into larger units, like the joining such flips about half would show heads. The
together of atoms into molecules in chemistry. same is true of response rate. At any particular
The difference between the molecular moment, an activity (lever pressing) is occurring
and molar views of behavior is paradigmatic, not or not. One can only observe the response rate
theoretical. No data, no experiment can decide over some substantial time period. A response
between the two views, because no matter what that occurs 60 times per minute cannot occur 60
behavioral phenomenon one chooses, a times per minute at a moment.
proponent of either view is able to construct an Although Skinner advocated the use of
account of it. The difference between the two response rate as a dependent variable, he was a
lies in the concepts each brings to bear in such molecularist. In his well-known paper on
an account. The molecular view relies on superstition, Skinner (1948) proposed a
momentary events and momentary causation, “snapshot” view of reinforcement, in which
which leads to postulating hypothetical delivery of a reinforcer strengthens whatever
behavior happens to be occurring at the moment.
Author’s Note:
The molecularity of his approach is perhaps
Correspondence concerning this article may be addressed to:
William M. Baum, 611 Mason, #504, San Francisco,
nowhere clearer than in a short piece he wrote
CA 94108 or 415-345-0050. Email address: called “Farewell, My Lovely!” in which he
wbaum@sbcglobal.net deplored the absence of cumulative records in
the pages of JEAB and extolled the virtues of
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B A U M
being able to observe “molecular,” moment-to- The likeliest way to overcome problem drinking
moment changes in behavior (Skinner, 1976). A is with local reinforcers for abstinent behavior.
cumulative recorder, however, is an averaging Thus, the molar view, like the molecular view,
machine; it only produces smooth curves says that, in practice, the one who would shape
because the chart moves slowly and the pen behavior needs to be swift with the reinforcers.
moves in small steps. At any particular moment, The molecular view has one point in its
either a response is occurring or not. The local favor: It coincides with a prejudice toward
changes in response rate are changes from one immediate causes. The notion that the events
interval to another. If, however, one were to fit that affect behavior occur either immediately
a truly continuous curve to a cumulative record, before or immediately after a response lends
then one might think of momentary rate as the simplicity to analysis. One knows just where to
slope of the curve at a particular point. This, look for the antecedents and consequences that
however, requires abstracting the continuous control the response. That simplicity, however,
function. comes at a high price: the necessity of inventing
In the molecular view, each response is immediate antecedents and consequences when
This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.
taken as a concrete particular (i.e., the basic none are apparent. Perhaps the best example is
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T H E B E H A V I O R A N A L Y S T T O D A Y V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 1 , 2 0 0 3
Another example of paying a high price to view, such a pattern constitutes a concrete
retain a molecular view is in accounting for rule- particular. The molecular view, focusing on a
governed behavior. Rules present a problem for moment, immediately moves to hypothetical
the molecular view because they are invariably constructs. Each alternative has a certain
associated with behavior that has important strength, unobservable at the moment but
consequences in the long run (Baum, 1994; existing at the moment. The extended pattern of
1995). Since long-delayed effects must be allocation is thought to reveal the relative
ineffective to the molecularist, if rule-governed strengths of the alternatives. If a pigeon pecks
behavior is maintained, some immediate twice as often at the left key than the right key,
(effective) consequences must be found. Why the strength of left pecking is considered twice
would someone eat vegetables instead of candy that of right pecking. If a child spends twice as
when no one else is present to observe? Why much time disrupting classroom activities as the
would someone save a piece of trash until a trash child spends doing schoolwork, the strength of
can appears, when it might have been dropped disrupting is twice that of remaining on task. In
on the street with impunity? Mallott (2001), in a the molar view, no hypothetical strength enters
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paper about moral and legal control, provides in, because these patterns of allocation are what
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B A U M
In conclusion, two points might be Baum, W. M., & Rachlin, H. C. (1969). Choice as time allocation.
made. First, although the molecular view was Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 12, 861-
874.
useful early in the development of behavior
Dinsmoor, J. A. (2001). Stimuli inevitably generated by behavior
analysis, the science has outgrown it, and the
that avoids electric shock are inherently reinforcing. Journal
molar view supplies the conceptual power of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 75, 311-333.
required for the new developments. Second, the Herrnstein, R. J. (1969). Method and theory in the study of
molar view may be recommended for the avoidance. Psychological Review, 76, 49-69.
flexibility and power that it allows both applied Herrnstein, R. J., & Hineline, P. N. (1966). Negative reinforcement
and basic researchers in talking about behavior as shock-frequency reduction. Journal of the Experimental
and contingencies. Analysis of Behavior, 9, 421-430.
Mallott, R. W. (2001). Moral and legal control. Behavioral
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This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.
Baum, W. M. (1995a). Introduction to molar behavior analysis. Rachlin, H. (2000). The science of self-control. Cambridge, MA:
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