**2. Contingential analysis**

Contingential analysis is a methodology developed for psychologists' professional work which enables analysis and modification of individual human behavior. It was developed by Ribes et al. [1], based on Ribes and López's [2] work, who developed an interbehavioral theory based on Kantor's work [3]. This theory presents a naturalistic behavior approach which is radically different from the dualistic conceptions that permeate our discipline.

variables. This involves the elimination of: observable/unobservable, public/private, inter-

Contingential Analysis: Interbehavioral Methodology for the Applied Field

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.74464

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**c.** Behavior is conceived as an interdependent relationship between different elements of the person and his/her environment where the different explanatory weights of such relation-

**d.** As interbehavior is an abstraction, the relationships that make up behavior are understood as a synchronous event, regardless of their occurrence in real time. A succession of events

**e.** Categories that designate occurrences and dispositions are used. As mentioned, dispositional factors refer to occurrence collections and their function is to make a behavior more

**f.** Considering Ribes and López's [2] functional taxonomy, processes with different functional complexity levels that may range from the relationship of an organism with its immediate context in terms of reaction to the same to the relationship that a human being can establish with abstract and conventional products such as mathematical languages

**g.** The model goes beyond ordinary language with the aim of creating unequivocal terms

In addition, the existence of different forms of producing knowledge, such as science and technology as part of the interbehavioral model's assumptions, is conceived. The first one has an analytical method and is abstract and general. The second one uses a synthetic method and is concrete and particular if it aims to be scientific. Hence, this approach deems that psychology must be a science and that the creation of technologies or application forms should result from scientific knowledge. Based on this, contingency analysis was developed with the same premises and general conception of the interbehavioral model, with categories and concepts

This methodology enables analysis and change of individual behavior with different purposes: detection and diagnosis, planning and prevention, development, and intervention and research in different professional practice fields such as organizational, health, sports, educa-

Contingential analysis consists of the following five steps to achieve these purposes: (1) identification of the microcontingency relationships, (2) evaluation of the macrocontingential system, (3) origin of problem, (4) solution analysis, and (5) selection, design, application, and evaluation of intervention strategies. Each one of these steps of the contingential analysis

The microcontingential system refers to the series of relationships that a person establishes with objects, people, circumstances, or environmental events [5], in which any of these

that enable specific phenomena's precise definition and analysis.

that have a correspondence relationship with the theory in a synthetic language.

nal/external dichotomies, and, evidently, any mentalist approach.

in time is not assumed.

or less likely [4].

are analyzed.

tional, and clinical, among others.

methodology is explained as follows.

**3. Microcontingential system**

ships can be assigned as an analysis function and not prior to the same.

The subject matter of the interbehavioral approach, also known as the field model, is interbehavior, understood as a series of interdependent relationships—of varying degrees of complexity between specific elements of the environment and of the organism that are built in the ontogenetic history. This approach's specific premises and characteristics make it different from others.

From this perspective and using a functional criterion, all of an individual's interactions with his/her environment comprise different elements that can be grouped into three specific categories: the stimulus-response function, dispositional factors, and the means of contact.

Generally, it is important to mention that the stimulus-response function refers to the response and stimulus segments that make contact. This can take place at different qualitative levels.

Dispositional factors refer to the series of events conducive to certain types of interactions by facilitating or inhibiting the same. Such factors include situational and environmental factors (temperature, objects, places, and organisms, among others), the interbehavioral history (stimulus evolution and reactive biography), and the organism's conditions (diseases, ailments, deprivation fullness, drug effects, or tendencies).

Finally, the physical-chemical, biological, and regulatory means of contact refer to the conditions that enable a specific interaction [2, 3].

These elements constitute the interbehavioral field, which is *a conceptual representation of an interaction segment of the individual organism with its environment* ([2], p. 42). In this field, elements are interrelated synchronously, establishing contingencies between events, in other words, establishing mutual dependencies between them.

Based on this model, Ribes and López [2] developed a taxonomy of the different levels of behavior organization mainly based on two parameters: (1) *mediation*, which is the process by which different factors of a psychological event relate through the critical element, which is the mediating element [2] and (2) the functional *detachment*, which refers to the possibility of an organism to respond in a relatively autonomous manner to the physical-chemical properties of the environment, in other words, its capacity to interact with objects, events, or absent people in the here and now [2].

Thereby, some of this theory's basic characteristics are briefly described hereunder:


variables. This involves the elimination of: observable/unobservable, public/private, internal/external dichotomies, and, evidently, any mentalist approach.


In addition, the existence of different forms of producing knowledge, such as science and technology as part of the interbehavioral model's assumptions, is conceived. The first one has an analytical method and is abstract and general. The second one uses a synthetic method and is concrete and particular if it aims to be scientific. Hence, this approach deems that psychology must be a science and that the creation of technologies or application forms should result from scientific knowledge. Based on this, contingency analysis was developed with the same premises and general conception of the interbehavioral model, with categories and concepts that have a correspondence relationship with the theory in a synthetic language.

This methodology enables analysis and change of individual behavior with different purposes: detection and diagnosis, planning and prevention, development, and intervention and research in different professional practice fields such as organizational, health, sports, educational, and clinical, among others.

Contingential analysis consists of the following five steps to achieve these purposes: (1) identification of the microcontingency relationships, (2) evaluation of the macrocontingential system, (3) origin of problem, (4) solution analysis, and (5) selection, design, application, and evaluation of intervention strategies. Each one of these steps of the contingential analysis methodology is explained as follows.
