Baum William M
University of California, Davis and University of New Hampshire.
J Exp Anal Behav. 2017 May;107(3):321-342. doi: 10.1002/jeab.256.
Price's equation describes evolution across time in simple mathematical terms. Although it is not a theory, but a derived identity, it is useful as an analytical tool. It affords lucid descriptions of genetic evolution, cultural evolution, and behavioral evolution (often called "selection by consequences") at different levels (e.g., individual vs. group) and at different time scales (local and extended). The importance of the Price equation for behavior analysis lies in its ability to precisely restate selection by consequences, thereby restating, or even replacing, the law of effect. Beyond this, the equation may be useful whenever one regards ontogenetic behavioral change as evolutionary change, because it describes evolutionary change in abstract, general terms. As an analytical tool, the behavioral Price equation is an excellent aid in understanding how behavior changes within organisms' lifetimes. For example, it illuminates evolution of response rate, analyses of choice in concurrent schedules, negative contingencies, and dilemmas of self-control.
普赖斯方程用简单的数学术语描述了随时间的进化。尽管它不是一个理论，而是一个推导出来的恒等式，但作为一种分析工具很有用。它能清晰地描述不同层面（如个体与群体）和不同时间尺度（局部和扩展）上的基因进化、文化进化和行为进化（常被称为“后果选择”）。普赖斯方程对行为分析的重要性在于它能够精确地重新表述后果选择，从而重新表述甚至取代效果律。除此之外，每当人们将个体发生的行为变化视为进化变化时，该方程可能会很有用，因为它用抽象、通用的术语描述了进化变化。作为一种分析工具，行为普赖斯方程在理解行为在生物体寿命期间如何变化方面是一个极好的辅助工具。例如，它阐明了反应率的进化、并发程序中的选择分析、负偶发事件以及自我控制的困境。
