A behavioristic interpretation of concept formation.

Verbal mediating responses and concept formation.

“…213-214). The same example of the essential features of concepts was used subsequently by Weiss (1925), Dashiell (1928), and Gray (1931). Although Watson (1920, p. 102) chose a different example, his treatment of conceptual behavior also emphasized verbal mediating responses.…”

Early behaviorism and verbal mediating responses.

“…318-319). Gray (1931) used the common response "food" in similar fashion to exemplify his thesis that concepts are to be conceived as a pattern of relationships in which diverse, usually dissimilar objects arouse the same verbal response, and stimuli from that response elicit one or more instrumental responses.…”

The role of the concept in reading ability.

“…These " find the essence of the concept in a motor phenomenon or tendency, with or without a conscious coefficient of kinaesthesis or feeling " (14). This comprises the essential point of Bolton's discussion of "meaning as adjustment" (7), of Wheeler's statement that "meaning is referable to kinaesthesis" (37), of Weiss's description of meaning as response (35), and of the behaviorist's definition of a concept as " a group of responses which have been classified together and labeled by a verbal symbol " (16). Fisher also inclines toward the "response" view of the concept.…”