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Learning Theory and Concepts

Behavioral Cusp

Behaviorist and Cognitive Processing Theories

A behavioral cusp is a behavior change that brings a person's or animal's behavior into contact with new contingencies carrying far-reaching consequences, giving the learner access to new reinforcers, new contingencies, new environments and new related behaviors. The concept was first developed by psychologist Sidney W. Bijou, and its modern formulation was set out by Jesus Rosales-Ruiz and Donald Baer in 1997, who defined behavioral cusps as significant behavioral changes that affect a person's subsequent behavioral development. The concept offers developmental psychology a behavioral account of significant change that is distinct from ordinary maturation or developmental milestones attributed simply to the passage of time.

Facts
Core Claim
A behavioral cusp is any behavior change that brings an organism's behavior into contact with new contingencies that have far-reaching consequences. 1
Origin Year
1997 1
Sources
1. Behavioral cusp (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Lead paragraph, first sentence
    A behavioral cusp is any behavior change that brings an organism's behavior into contact with new contingencies that have far-reaching consequences.
  • History section, second paragraph
    A behavioral cusp as conceptualized by Jesus Rosales-Ruiz and Donald Baer in 1997 is an important behavior change that affects future behavior changes.
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