ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the correspondence relations, focusing on imitation and rule-governed behavior. It examines contingencies of reinforcement that regulate the behavior of the speaker, or what Skinner called the analysis of verbal behavior. The experimental research by Robert Epstein on imitation and delayed imitation in pigeons remains controversial. There is evidence that spontaneous imitation occurs in human infants, almost from the moment of birth. Imitation in human newborns involves the infant observing a modeled gesture and responding with a set of muscle movements that correspond to the visual stimulus of modeled actions. The evidence for innate imitation has been mixed, but a new study strongly indicates that neonatal imitation at birth does not occur and supports the claim that infant imitation is ontogenetic in origin, completely based on learning. Considerable research investigating generalized imitation has been done with children. The importance of reinforcement contingencies in establishing and maintaining rule-following behavior are clearly seen with ineffective rules and instructions.
