The persistence of operant behavior when disrupted tends to be positively related to how often reinforcers were delivered in the past. Behavioral momentum theory describes this finding as the outcome of Pavlovian processes. That is, the relation between discriminative stimuli and reinforcers that were delivered in their presence strengthens behavior, thereby making it more likely to persist. If only the story were that simple. A growing number of findings challenge the basic tenets of behavioral momentum theory. Some even call into question whether Pavlovian relations contribute to persistence in the first place. In this paper, I will review behavioral momentum theory and some of the data that have been problematic for the theory. I will argue that despite these very real challenges, the theory provides important utility not only to basic analyses of response persistence but also to clinical interventions directed at long-term reductions in problem behavior. It, for example, has set the stage for the development of alternative conceptual analyses of resistance to change, two of which will be highlighted for readers. Moreover, behavioral momentum theory may tell us something important about the reasons it continues to have an influence on the field, despite the challenging data that deter it.

中文翻译：

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对改变、行为和理论的抵制

操作行为受到干扰时的持续性往往与过去提供强化物的频率呈正相关。行为动量理论将这一发现描述为巴甫洛夫过程的结果。也就是说，歧视性刺激和在其存在下传递的强化物之间的关系会强化行为，从而使其更有可能持续下去。故事要是这么简单就好了。越来越多的研究结果挑战了行为动量理论的基本原则。有些人甚至质疑巴甫洛夫关系是否有助于持久性。在本文中，我将回顾行为动量理论以及该理论存在问题的一些数据。我认为，尽管存在这些非常现实的挑战，该理论不仅为反应持续性的基本分析提供了重要的实用性，而且还为旨在长期减少问题行为的临床干预提供了重要的实用性。例如，它为抵制变革的替代概念分析的发展奠定了基础，其中两个将向读者重点介绍。此外，行为动量理论可能会告诉我们一些重要的信息，说明它继续对该领域产生影响的原因，尽管有挑战性的数据阻碍了它。