The extensions of tact according the Skinnerian conception of stimulus property

Abstract

In Verbal Behavior, B. F. Skinner presents an interpretation about tact extensions. Included in his interpretation there is a categorization of extensions of tact: generic, metaphorical, metonymical, solecistic, nomination and guessing. However, how such categories are derived from verbal classes set is not properly clarified in his work. There are also no set rules that are considered by the author to perform the classifi cation of types of extensions. Trying to explain, based strictly on Skinner’s interpretation, (1) the extension mechanism of tact and (2) the logic involved in his categorization, we investigated, in Verbal Behavior and previous texts of the same author, information which would clarify these important aspects of his interpretation. It was emphasized in the course of present text, the importance of the concept of stimulus property in the skinnerian interpretation of extensions because it is a fundamental concept in description of behavioral mechanism involved in extensions and, to other hand, it can be a base to various categorizations of tact extensions presented by Skinner. Therefore, tact extensions were organized, in decreasing order, in accord to probability of appearance: generic, metaphorical, metonymical, solecistic, and guessing.