A. C. Catania’s contributions to the molar/molecular debate in operant behavior theory

Abstract

A. C. Catania has been a leading researcher, theorist and commentator in the field of behavior and analysis for more than sixty years. In publications spanning more than fifty years he has made important contributions to the molar/molecular debate. This paper tracks the development of his ideas across that time and shows that he has maintained a remarkably consistent and coherent view that sees a role for molecular processes including shaping along with processes that operate over longer time frames but sees no need for a so-called paradigm shift to molar explanations of operant behavior.