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| Similarities and Differences in Cultural and Behavioral Systems: Implications for Organizations |
| Thursday, November 29, 2001 |
| 10:00 AM–10:50 AM |
| Carnelutti Hall |
| Area: OBM; Domain: Applied Behavior Analysis |
| Chair: Ramona Houmanfar (University of Nevada, Reno) |
| Abstract: Can we use a behavior analytic conceptual framework to understand complex systems? Changing cultural systems ultimately means that participants behave differently. We argue that there is more to cultural systems than behavioral contingencies. Behavior analytic understanding is essential but not sufficient to comprehend how large, complex systems are organized or function as integrated wholes. This symposium will attempt to answer three questions: What are the similarities between behavioral and cultural systems? What are the differences? And what are the implications of those similarities and differences for changing organizations? |
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| Cultural and Behavioral Systems: Similarities and Differences |
| SIGRID S. GLENN (University of North Texas), Maria E. Malott (Malott & Associates) |
| Abstract: Behavioral systems encompass contingencies of reinforcement accounting for the origin and maintenance of a single organism's behavior. A cultural system is a set of interlocking behavioral contingencies that function as an integrated whole and are made up of behavior from the repertoires of two or more organisms. Behavior systems and cultural systems are analogous in how they function with respective to their selecting environments. But the units that participate in their respective selection contingencies differ. We will argue that the major differences are the units of analysis, the lineages and the selecting environments. The major similarities are the selection as a cause, adaptation, and the complexity resulting from selection. |
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| Orderly Complexity of Cultural and Behavioral Systems: Implications for Organizational Change |
| MARIA E. MALOTT (Malott & Associates), Sigrid S. Glenn (University of North Texas) |
| Abstract: Behavioral systems encompass contingencies of reinforcement accounting for the origin and maintenance of a single organism's behavior. A cultural system is a set of interlocking behavioral contingencies that function as an integrated whole and are made up of behavior from the repertoires of two or more organisms. Behavior systems and cultural systems are analogous in how they function with respective to their selecting environments. But the units that participate in their respective selection contingencies differ. We will argue that the major differences are the units of analysis, the lineages and the selecting environments. The major similarities are the selection as a cause, adaptation, and the complexity resulting from selection. |
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