From contingency substitution to contacts by extension and transformation: A 40-year review

Abstract

This article critically reviews the historical and conceptual development of contingency substitution, initially proposed by Ribes and López (1985). It analyzes how this concept emerged as a critique of the Skinnerian model, which relied on reflex-based logic insufficient to account for complex human behavior. It also examines how initial reliance on Kantor’s interbehavioral theory introduced conceptual ambiguity regarding fundamental terms. From this standpoint, the four most significant formulations of the concept (1983, 1985, 2012, & 2018) are systematically compared, discussing their philosophical and scientific backgrounds as well as the controversies arising from their interpretation and empirical operationalization. The paper illustrates how the proposal evolved from an initial notion of communicative reference toward a more refined concept of intentional reference, culminating in the current formulation of a molar model based on contact by extension and transformation. Finally, the article concludes by suggesting avenues for theoretical and empirical advancement, including the possibility of developing an alternative proposal.