Field states and boundaries, contact media and the molar analysis of behavior: theoretical reflections

Abstract

I examine and propose a number of concepts and criteria to complement the theoretical system formulated by Ribes and López in 1985. This paper deals with the following issues: 1) the characterization of the physico-chemical, ecological, and conventional contact media, 2) the relationship of function and occurrence contingencies with the field boundaries,, 3) the description of interbehavioral functions in terms of contingency field states, 4) the proposal of a number of molar measures of interbehavioral functions, and 5) a classification of functional cases of each type of behavioral intection in terns of space and time dimensions. Finally, I consider some pending tasks that emerge from this complementary proposal.