contingency

n. a conditional, probabilistic relation between two events. When the probability of Event B given Event A is 1.0, a perfect positive contingency is said to exist. When Event A predicts with certainty the absence of Event B, a perfect negative contingency is said to exist. Probabilities between –1.0 and 1.0 define a continuum from negative to positive contingencies, with a probability of zero indicating no contingency. Contingencies may be arranged via dependencies or they may emerge by accident (see accidental reinforcement). See also law of contiguity; reinforcement contingency.

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Psychology term of the day

December 18th 2024

seriation

n. the process of arranging a collection of items in a specific order (series) on the basis of a particular dimension (e.g., size). According to Piagetian theory, this ability is necessary for understanding the concepts of numbers, time, and measurement and is acquired by children during the concrete operational stage.