Implications of Behavioral Narratology for Psychotherapy, Help-Seeking Behavior, and Substance Use

MOs can evoke behavior and CMOs remain useful: Commentary on Edwards, Lotfizadeh, and Poling (2019)

“…That said, more fundamental research on the MOC (particularly the CMOs) is desirable. Michael and colleagues and Edwards et al () have described testable hypotheses for experimentation (see also Laraway et al, ; Snycerski et al, ; Sundberg ; ). We encourage interested JEAB readers to pursue this research.…”

“…221‐253, Troisi, ). In addition, it seems possible that CMO‐Ss could be produced through relational frames that may or may not involve Pavlovian conditioning (Laraway et al, ; Snycerski et al, ). Regardless, the CMO‐S has been demonstrated empirically (Lanovaz, Rapp, Long, Richling, & Carroll, ).…”

“…This is a worthy goal, but we do not feel they have convincingly demonstrated that the MOC has hindered behavior analysts' attempts to predict, describe, or change behavior in meaningful ways. That said, revisions to the MOC that could advance our understanding are worth considering, and we have recommended that behavioral scientists continue to research it (e.g., Laraway et al, ; Snycerski, Laraway, Gregg, Capriotti, & Callaghan, ). We hold a pragmatic view of scientific behavior, in which a scientific concept is “true” to the extent that it facilitates effective action (Skinner, 1945, , ; Zuriff, ).…”