Rule-governed behavior and human behavioral pharmacology: A brief commentary on an important topic

Abstract

Over 25 years ago, B. F. Skinner introduced the concept of rule-governed behavior, which is the topic of this commentary. To date, behavioral pharmacologists have given rule-governed behavior little consideration in their analyses of drug action. There are, however, published studies that demonstrate the importance of rule-governed behavior in modulating drug effects in humans. Rule-governed behavior may help to explain differences in drug self-administration in humans and nonhumans and, in humans, differences in drug effects across individuals and situations. This commentary suggests that rule-governed behavior merits further attention in the context of human behavioral pharmacology, and posits that scientists who are experts in verbal behavior can make a unique contribution to the theoretical and experimental analysis of drug-related human behaviors, including drug abuse and its treatment.