Topography
Also called: form of behavior
Definition
The physical form of a behavior — what it looks like, the movements involved — as distinct from its function. Operational definitions usually describe topography because that is what an observer can see, but two behaviors with the same topography can serve different functions and the same function can be served by many topographies.
In plain language
What a behavior looks like, the actual movements. It says nothing about why the behavior happens.
Example
Defining hitting as an open hand making contact with another person's body from more than 15 cm away is a topographical description.
Not topography
Describing the same behavior as hitting to get out of work. That names the function, not the form.
Commonly confused with
See also
Written from
- johnston-pennypacker-2020
Written from Johnston, Pennypacker and Green (2020). No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.