Context and the Properties of Behavior

Abstract

The subject of this paper is the concept of context and its significance for an understanding of behavior. Implicit in this rather long phrase are two basic points: (1) Behavior-of at least the behavior of higher organismsreflects the principle of relational determination. That is, behavior does not occur in a behavioral vacuum, but within a particular frame of reference, and an understanding of its substantive properties as well as its functional significance depends upon knowledge of this frame of reference.