Effects of Verbal and Non-Verbal Cultural Consequences on Culturants

Abstract

Experiments in metacontingencies about the effects of cultural consequences (CCs) upon culturants (IBCs+APs) suggest an important role of two specific variables: competition between operant contingencies and metacontingencies, and the antecedent and consequent verbal events to the participants’ behavior. The present study manipulated the presentation of verbal (VCCs) and non-verbal (NVCCs) cultural consequences, examining their effects upon culturants under conditions of competition and no competition between operant contingencies and metacontingencies. One-hundred and twenty-three college students composed four microcultures. Two of the microcultures were exposed to an ABABCD and two other ones a BABACD design. Competition and non competition between operant contingencies and metacontingencies were also manipulated. In conditions A verbal and nonverbal cultural consequences were contingent on target culturants; in conditions B there were only nonverbal cultural consequences; in conditions C only verbal cultural consequences were presented; and in conditions D there was no cultural consequence programmed. Microcultures with no competition exhibited more stable rates of target-culturants. Verbal and non-verbal cultural consequences selected and maintained target-culturants whether or not competition was operating. Verbal cultural consequences had the same effect, provided that they were not associated with non-verbal ones in the previous condition. Non-verbal cultural consequences selected target culturants only in the absence of competition, but maintained them whether or not competition was operating. In the absence of cultural consequences, the rate of target culturants decreased. Verbal variables defined as verbal cultural consequences showed differential effects that need to be considered and further investigated. Possibilities of future research involving verbal events as cultural consequences are presented.