Not all elementary verbal relationships have such point-to-point correspondence. We learned previously that if there is no point-to-point correspondence between the stimulus and the response, then we call the type of controlling relationship thematic. What follows are the types of elementary verbal relationships that are examples of thematic control. They are thematic because in most cases the controlling variable strengthens several responses. This fact will become clearer as each of the elementary relationships involving thematic control is presented.
When a controlling variable evokes a response and has the following features:
There is NO point-to-point correspondence between the controlling variable and the response
Whether or not there is formal similarity between the controlling variable and the response
Formal characteristics of either the controlling variable or the response
Dynamic characteristics of either the controlling variable or the response