Functional dimensions of social behavior: Theoretical considerations and some preliminary data

Abstract

The empirical realm of social behavior is conceptually analyzed, in order to distinguish it from presocial and parasocial behavior. It is argued that social behavior is exclusively human and can be identified only through the division of labor and deferred exchange of goods and services, all of it made possible by conventional communication or language. Three functional dimensions of social medium are proposed: Power (prescription contingencies), wealth (exchange contingencies), and morals and justice (sanction contingencies). A methodological preparation for the experimental analysis of dyadic interactions in these dimensions is proposed and some preliminary data are shown.