Introductory Concepts
Elementary Relationships
Extensions of Verbal Behavior
Multiple Controlling Relationships
Building on the Elementary Relationships
Text of An Introduction to Verbal Behavior © 1978-2024 Norman Peterson, Ph.D. Graphics and other media elements of An Introduction to Verbal Behavior is © 2010-2024 FoxyLearning LLC and distributed under CC BY-NC-SA
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26.5 Metonymical Extension Example #4
Saying “stop” as the result of seeing a red octagonal sign with no letters on it is another example of metonymical extension. The shape and color are irrelevant stimulus features that frequently accompany the written word “stop.”
Metonymical Extension
An instance of verbal behavior with the following features:
The response form has already been acquired in one or more of the elementary verbal relationships
The stimulus must be novel
The novel stimulus must have none of the relevant features of the class of stimuli that previously controlled the response
The type of elementary verbal relationship
Formal and dynamic characteristics of both the stimulus and the response
Whether or not the current response is followed by reinforcement
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