Pivotal Behavior
Also called: pivotal response
Definition
A behavior that, once learned, produces improvements in other, untrained behaviors without those being taught directly — motivation to respond, self-initiation, responding to multiple cues. It differs from a cusp in that the payoff is collateral change in other behaviors rather than access to new environments.
In plain language
A skill that, once learned, makes other skills improve on their own. Starting conversations is one: it leads to more language without more teaching.
Example
After being taught to ask "what's that?", a learner's vocabulary grows from the answers without any further word-by-word teaching.
Not pivotal behavior
Learning to walk, which opens new places and contingencies. That is a cusp.
Commonly confused with
See also
Written from
- koegel-koegel-1999
Written from Koegel et al. (1999). No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.