In studies of stimulus equivalence, a research participant may be first trained to match Sample stimulus A to Comparison stimulus B, and Sample B to Comparison C. After this matching-to-sample training, if the person can match A to A, B to B, C to C (reflexivity), B to A, C to B (symmetry), and A to C (transitivity) in a test, stimulus equivalence is said to have emerged. Moreover, the relations between stimuli (e.g., A-C) in an equivalence class (i.e., ABC) have been regarded as models for the relations between a word and its referent, or between words in natural language. Furthermore, some studies combining stimulus generalization and stimulus equivalence have resulted in models for the natural categories designated by words. Other investigations of the transfer of stimulus function through stimuli in equivalence classes have suggested, for example, models for the transfer of emotional responses through words. In the future, these generalization and transfer paradigms will make possible more suitable models of the basic structure and function of natural language.
View full abstract