Countercontrol

Countercontrol is a term used by Dr. B. F. Skinner in 1953 as a functional class in the analysis of social behavior. Control is fundamental in both conceptual, experimental and applied behavior analysis, as it is fundamental in all experimental science. To study functional relations in behavior and environment, one must manipulate (control) environmental variables to study their effect in behavior. Countercontrol can be defined as human, operant behavior that is a result of (response) social aversive control. The individual that is exposed to aversive control may try to escape or avoid control.

Countercontrol is mentioned in About Behaviorism. It is also mentioned in Skinner's Technology of Teacher.