Equivalence – Equivalence Relations: Effects of Training-Structure and Competition Between Arbitrary and Relations of Physical Similarity

In this paper we study the necessary and sufficient conditions for the training of conditional relations, the formation of equivalence classes and relations of "equivalence - equivalence". It further investigates the influence of the training structure in the formation of relations of "equivalence-equivalence" and the possible correlation between the baseline relations and the formation of derived relations and response manner under conditions of competition between "equivalence - equivalence "and relations with physical similarity. The results showed that when forming only two equivalence classes of three members, it is possible to establish relations of "equivalence-equivalence". However, in these conditions, the training structure does not affect the performance testing of derived relations. Also, if two modes of response, by "equivalence-equivalence" and physical similarity are available from the beginning of test, mode of responding to the derived relationships prevailed over the physical similarity of stimuli.