This thesis introduces a novel behavior categorization model that can be used for behavior recognition and learning. Correlation Based Adaptive Resonance Theory (CobART) network, which is a kind of self organizing and unsupervised competitive neural network, is developed for this purpose. CobART uses correlation analysis methods for category matching. It has modular and simple architecture. It can be adapted to different categorization tasks by changing the correlation analysis methods used when needed. CobART networks are integrated hierarchically for an adequate categorization of behaviors. The hierarchical model is developed by adding a second layer CobART network on top of first layer networks. The first layer CobART networks categorize self behavior data of a robot or an object in the environment. The second layer CobART network receives first layer CobART network categories as an input, and categorizes them to elicit the robot&#039 / s behavior with respect to its effect on the object. Besides, the second layer network back-propagates the matching information to the first layer networks in order to find the relation between the first layer categories. The performance of the hierarchical model is compared with that of different neural network based models. Experiments show that the proposed model generates reasonable categorization of behaviors being tested. Moreover, it can learn different forms of the behaviors, and it can detect the relations between them. In essence, the model has an expandable architecture and it contains reusable parts. The first layer CobART networks can be integrated with other CobART networks for another categorization task. Hence, the model presents a way to reveal all behaviors performed by the robot at the same time.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-27T14:22:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Graziela Freire Vieira.pdf: 538835 bytes, checksum: abd6f0b40af6e005390b2a7a6872fcec (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-27 / This paper has as its objective the study of the clinical context, identifying vocal verbal behaviors categories of the verbal narratives in a therapeutic section. It also analyses the behaviors emitted by the therapist and client discussion s themes during each therapeutic relationship. For that matter, it was chosen the use of direct observation of the behavior as a method to obtain trustworthy data and construction of verbal behavior categories. A behavioral therapist and a 22 years old female patient were participants in this study. The client presented complaints related to her suffering after a relationship breakup, difficulty engaging in other relationships, timidity, and depression. The session were video tapped. All videos were watched and transcribed, making possible the thematic analysis worked in each session and the development of the verbal behavior categories. The selection of these categories was built utilizing: five vocal verbal behavior categories described by B.F. Skinner in his book Verbal Behavior and, six vocal verbal behavior categories taken from observations of this study. The data shows that the therapist s verbalizations were more often than the client s verbalization. Categories, such as autoclitic , tact and mand , had the most frequent occurrence when compared to the other categories. The data shows that the therapist emitted more verbalizations in the theme variable explanations and the client in the theme other subjects . Moreover, the data leads to the development of possible functional relationships between the behaviors emitted by the therapist and the behaviors emitted by the client. It also suggests that therapists trained to utilize verbal behavior as an incentive to promote changes can amplify their interventions effect. In general, this study demonstrates the importance of the verbal behavior study in the therapeutic interaction in order to enhance its efficiency and, therefore, to promote behavior changes in the client s behavior repertory. / O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o contexto clínico identificando categorias de comportamento verbais vocais funcionais dos relatos verbais de uma díade terapêutica. Procurou-se também estudar os comportamentos emitidos pela terapeuta e pela cliente nos conteúdos temáticos trabalhados em cada sessão terapêutica. Para isso, optou-se pelo uso da observação direta do comportamento como método para obtenção de dados fidedignos e construção de categorias de comportamento verbal. Participaram deste estudo uma terapeuta da área comportamental e uma cliente de 22 anos, sexo feminino, e que apresentava queixas relacionadas com o sofrimento devido ao término de um namoro, dificuldade de se envolver em outros relacionamentos, timidez e depressão. As sessões foram registradas em vídeo. Os vídeos foram assistidos e transcritos, o que possibilitou a análise dos conteúdos temáticos trabalhados em cada sessão e o levantamento de categorias de comportamento verbal. A seleção das categorias foi feita utilizando: cinco categorias de comportamentos verbais vocais descritas por Skinner em sua obra O comportamento verbal de B. F. Skinner e seis categorias de comportamento verbais vocais retiradas do próprio estudo. Os dados nos mostram que as verbalizações da terapeuta ocorreram com maior freqüência que as verbalizações da cliente. As categorias de comportamento autoclítico , tato e mando obtiveram as maiores freqüências de ocorrência em relação ás outras categorias. Os dados também mostram que a terapeuta emitiu mais verbalizações no tema Explicações diversas e a cliente no tema Outros assuntos . Além disso, os dados nos indicam para o levantamento de possíveis relações funcionais entre os comportamentos emitidos pela terapeuta e os comportamentos emitidos pela cliente. Sugere-se também que terapeutas treinados a utilizar o comportamento verbal como estímulo promotor de mudanças pode ampliar o alcance de suas intervenções. De um modo geral, este estudo ressalta a importância de estudarmos o comportamento verbal dentro do contexto clínico para ampliar a eficácia das intervenções terapêuticas e, assim, produzir mudanças de comportamento no repertório comportamental do cliente.